Better Check Oneself First

A man was perplexed by his wife's refusal to admit her hearing problem.  Speaking with his doctor one day, he exclaimed, "How can I get my wife to admit that she is hard of hearing?"

"I'll tell you what you need to do," his doctor replied.  "When you arrive home this evening, peek your head through the door and ask, 'Honey, what's for dinner tonight?'  If she doesn't answer, go into the living room and say, 'Honey, what's for dinner?'  If she still does not answer, walk into the kitchen and ask, 'Honey, what's for dinner?'  If she still does not hear you, then walk right up behind her and speak directly in her ear: 'Honey, what's for dinner?'  Then you will be able to convince her of her need for a hearing exam."

"Great!" the man responded.  "I think it will work!"

That evening the man arrived home from work. Just as he had been instructed, he opened the front door and called out: "Honey, what's for dinner tonight?"  He listened carefully, but there was no reply.  He walked into the living room and repeated, "Honey, what's for dinner?" He still received no answer.  He then walked into the kitchen and asked, "Honey, what's for dinner?"  Still there was no answer.  The man walked right up behind his wife and spoke directly into her ear: "Honey, what's for dinner?"

At this the wife turned around and resolutely replied: "For the fourth time, I said we are having spaghetti!"

- Timothy J. Helm, Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, November 1994)