[2919] in Humor
HUMOR: Father!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Andrew A. Bennett)
Fri Sep 3 03:03:12 1999
To: humor@MIT.EDU
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 03:00:47 -0400
From: "Andrew A. Bennett" <abennett@MIT.EDU>
From: Merlyn Liberty <merlyn@swcp.com>
Saint Peter's Day Off
Saint Peter had a terrible cold & fever & didn't think he would last the day
minding the Pearly Gates. So he phoned Jesus to ask for the day off.
"Why, Peter," Jesus said, "you know your health is my first concern.
Take as much time as you need."
As Jesus pondered who he might use to replace Peter, he decided to handle
the job himself. It was a very slow day & no one approached the Gates until
late afternoon, when in the distance, Jesus saw a bent, white-haired old man
slowly making his way up the path with the aid of a gnarled cane.
As the man neared, Jesus said, "Good afternoon, sir. May I help you?"
The man replied, "I was hoping to enter the Gates of Heaven."
"We would certainly love to have you," said Jesus, "but we do have certain
rules as to whom can enter Heaven. Tell me, what have you done to deserve
such an honor?"
"Actually, I have done nothing so wonderful myself," said the man. "I lived
in a small town & led a simple life as a carpenter. But my son," he
continued, "now HE was special !"
With pride in his voice he said, "I raised him to be a carpenter like myself
& did my best to teach him right from wrong. When he grew older, an amazing
transformation overcame him & to this day he's known throughout the world &
loved by all alike."
As Jesus listened to the story, a sense of recognition came to him. With a
lump in his throat & a tear in his eye, he threw open his arms & cried,
"Father!"
Emotional at this outburst, the old man threw open his arms & yelled,
"Pinocchio!"
