“Tally sticks were quite explicitly IOUs: both parties to a transaction would take a hazelwood twig, notch it to indicate the amount owed, and then split it in half. The creditor would keep one half, called "the stock" (hence the origin of the term "stock holder") and the debtor kept the other, called "the stub" (hence the origin of the term "ticket stub.)” DebtIou Book:Debt: The First 5,000 Years Source: Debt: The First 5,000 Years
“It had been Hero who’d given me his cell number and told me that he owed me one and to call if I needed anything. Getting an IOU from a thirteen-year-old had been wild—what was he going to give me, a box of cookies and a Playstation?” DebtCookiesPlaystationLmaoIouFrick OffHe Means WellThirteen Year Old Book:The Daymakers Source: The Daymakers
“This isn't 'I do something for you, you do something for me'. This is hard-core friendship. Varsity level. This is me asking you to do something for me without getting anything in return. This is friendship, Howie.” FriendshipHard CoreJasperIouHowieVarsity Book:Blood of My Blood Source: Blood of My Blood