A couple lived
near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot.

One summer they
noticed a girl who was at the beach pretty much every day.

She wasn't
unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing;

She would approach
people who were sitting on the beach, glance around furtively, then speak to
them.

Generally, the
people would respond negatively and she would wander off, but occasionally
someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money for something she
carried in her bag.

The couple assumed
she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but since they didn't know
for sure they just continued to watch her.

After a couple of
weeks the wife asked, "Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to
people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?"

He said he hadn't.

Then she said,
"Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the
beach. Then we can find out what she's really doing."

Well, the plan
went off without a hitch, and the wife was almost hopping up and down with
anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave.

The man walked up
the beach and met his wife at the road. "Well, is she selling drugs?" she asked
excitedly.

"No, she's not,"
he said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.

"Well, what is it,
then?" his wife fairly shrieked.

The man grinned
and said. "She's a battery salesperson."

"Batteries?" cried
the wife.

"Yes" he replied.
"She sells C cells by the seashore."