Two college boys home for the holidays are sitting in a restaurant at the mall goofing-off after a semester of hard work. Little do they know that before the day is over they’ll be high rollers in international banking. Well, sort of.

Into the restaurant comes this high-class-looking businessman, asking if he can join them for lunch.

"Sure," they say, somewhat startled. The man is dripping with charisma. He’s a black guy, 35 years old, over six feet tall, and immaculately dressed. He introduces himself as Douglas Brice Jordan, president of a bank in Atlanta.

At first there’s small talk, mostly Mr. Jordan building the college boys’ confidence in themselves as potential leaders in the world of international finance.

Next the impressive stranger whips out a handsomely designed prospectus of his big-city bank showing assets of $18 billion. Both boys are paying attention like they’re studying for a final exam. This guy is really good.

"What we need more than anything else is new blood — bright young people with fresh ideas — ideas never before tried in the world of international banking," Mr. Jordan explains. "And you two gentlemen seem to have exactly what my bank is looking for. You have the looks, the demeanor and I believe, the intelligence."p>

The boys are stunned. "We don’t know anything about banking," one of the boys blurts out.

"Precisely!" says Mr. Jordan, "and that’s why I need you in my organization — you’re fresh — you’re alive. And I’m prepared to reward you for those qualities."

Mr. Jordan then makes out a $15,000 check for each of the two boys which he says he’ll credit to their accounts at his bank in Atlanta. "This is my way of showing good faith in my newest young executives," he says, extending his arm for congratulatory handshakes.

Almost as an afterthought, Mr. Jordan comments, "There is one small item — the law does require that bank executives be bonded. I’m afraid that same law requires that executives pay the $250 bonding fee out of personal funds."

Without hesitation, the boys pay the "bonding fee" with checks from their college accounts. Moments later Mr. Jordan waves as he drives away in his dark green Explorer — and money from their tuition accounts. The boys have just completed their first class in Flim-Flam-101.