Accountants on a train (long)

Three lawyers and three accountants stood in line to buy tickets for a train ride to the city. The three accountants bought only one ticket between them, while the three lawyers bought one ticket each.

After the men got on the train, one of the lawyers asked one of the accountants, “Why did you only buy one ticket when there’s three of you?” The accountant answered, “We are accountants, and very frugal with our money. Watch and learn.”

As the train’s conductor made his way through the car, all the accountants got up and went into the bathroom. A short while later, the conductor knocked on the door and said, “Tickets please.” The door opened a crack and a hand shot out holding a ticket. The conductor punched the ticket, handed it back and moved on.

The lawyers were amazed! One of them said, “That’s a great trick! We’ve got to try that on the way home!”

On the return trip, the accountants and the lawyers met at the ticket window. The lawyers bought one ticket between them, but the accountants did not buy any.

“How can you all ride the train with no ticket at all?”, asked a lawyer. The accountant answered, “We are accountants, and very frugal with our money. Watch and learn.”

As the train’s conductor made his way through the car, all the lawyers got up and went into the bathroom. After the door shut behind them, all the accountants all got up and went into the bathroom across the aisle. A few seconds later, one of the accountants emerged, knocked on the door to the bathroom where the lawyers hid, and said, “Tickets please!”