Rooked

So I just got rooked by a 10-year-old pizza delivery guy. I call my regular pizza joint, order my regular pizza. 25 minutes later, the doorbell rings, and I open the door to find a 10-year-old kid holding my pizza box at a rather precarious angle.

"Did you order a pizza?", he asks me very politely.

"Yes I did," I say.

"I'm sorry it's late," he tells me.

"That's OK," I respond. "Do you have change?"

"Change?" he asks, beginning to look somewhat bewildered.

Uh oh. All I have is a $20 and 5 singles. The pie costs $11 and I usually tip $2.

"They sent you out to deliver pizzas with no change?" I ask him, incredulous.

He takes a step back, and shakes his head. Regards me warily for a few seconds as I try to decide what to do. I don't want this kid to get in trouble, but neither do I want to pay $20 for a pizza. Plus I'm hungry and I want some slices.

"Wait, I have my own money," he pipes up. He opens his velcro'd wallet and takes out 3 dollar bills.

I tell him, "OK, here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna take the pizza, and your 3 dollars, and you're going to take this delivery receipt and my 20 dollars. You get back to the pizza place, you tell them they owe you $5, OK?"

He nods vaguely.

"You got it?" I ask him. He half nods, half shakes his head.

I try again. "See, you just gave me 3 dollars of your own money, so you should get that back from them. Plus you get 2 dollars for bringing me my pizza. So that makes 5 right?"

"Right," he says, warming up to the idea.

"Next time they send you out delivering pizzas, you tell 'em they have to give you some change to bring with you," I advise.

"OK," he nods. He eyes the steps, wondering if he is free to leave.

"Have a good night," I tell him.

"OK, bye," he says, turns, and scampers off down the stairs.

Pizza was pretty good. Not $17 good, but what can you do?