18 May, 2004

A FREE RIDE

A FREE RIDE
__________________________

Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the State Fair every year.
Every year Stumpy would say, "Martha, I'd like to ride in that
there airplane."

And every year Martha would say, "I know, Stumpy, but that airplane
ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."

This one year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said,
"Martha, I'm 71 years old. If I don't ride that airplane this year
I may never get another chance."

Martha replied, "Stumpy, that there airplane ride costs ten dollars,
and ten dollars is ten dollars."

The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal.
I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the
entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you, but if you
say one word it's ten dollars."

Stumpy and Martha agree and up they go. The pilot does all kinds
of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word is heard. He
does all his tricks over again, but still not a word. They land
and the pilot turns to Stumpy, "By golly, I did everything I could
think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't."

Stumpy replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell
out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."