The parking meter swallowed Theo’s coins and displayed OUT OF ORDER.
He took a photograph and left a note on his dashboard: METER TOOK PAYMENT, NO TICKET PRINTED.
When he returned, a parking officer was standing by the car. Theo showed her the photograph.
“I paid,” he said. “The machine broke after it took my money.”
The officer studied the screen. “It says out of order now.”
“Exactly. Does that mean parking is free?”
“No,” she said. “It means the machine has stopped giving change.”
Theo looked at his empty hand. “It never gave me any.”
“Then it’s been out of order longer than I thought.”