The poor fellow didn't know what to do, but he decided to consult the pet shop owner.
``I'm sorry, my man'' said the pet shop owner, ``but its company policy, no returns. We've no idea how you might have treated the animal''
``But what am I to do with a dead hamster?''
``Well, that's up to you'' said the pet shop man, ``But I've heard that they make a good jam. Just put it in the blender with boiling water - the gelatin comes out of the bones and when it cools it sets to a jam'' With no other options, the fellow decided to give the jam a try. Sure enough, it did set to a jam - but when he tasted it, it tasted terrible!! So, he went back to the pet shop.
``I did what you said'' he said, ``but it tastes terrible - try it'' The pet shop owner had to agree that it was terrible.
``What shall I do'' the man asked.
``Well that's up to you'' replied the pet shop owner ``but if I was you, I would spread it on my lawn as fertilizer - the nitrogen might do some good'' So the fellow decided he might as well try that and when he got home he carefully spread the jam over the back lawn and watered it liberally. The next morning, when he looked out, he saw shoots springing up all over the back lawn. He was amazed. But over the next few days he kept watering the shoots until he recognised that they where tulips.
In excitement he rushed back to the pet shop and told the owner what had happened.
``Not surprising really'' said the pet shop man ``It's well known that one gets tulips from hamster jam!''
Don't blame me - blame John Cornell for sending it to me.