On a sunny Saturday morning, four married friends decided to take a break and go fishing together. As they cast their lines into the calm lake, their conversation naturally turned to how they had received a “hall pass” to leave home for the day.
Each man had a funny story to tell.
The First Man’s Deal
The first man groaned and said, “You wouldn’t believe what I had to do to get here.”
People who were nearby looked over with interest.
He shook his head and said, “I told my wife I would paint the whole house this weekend.” “Every wall, every corner. But I told her I wanted one day of peace and quiet to think things through before I started.
The other people laughed out of pity. Everyone knew how nice it was to have a day off at home.
The Second Man’s Promise
The second fisherman was not going to let the first one win.
He said with pride, “That’s nothing.” I told my wife that I would build her the new pool deck she’s been wanting for years. I made the plans and everything!
He smiled and leaned back. “This trip was my reward for finally saying yes.”
The group laughed again. It seems that each fishing trip had its own price.
The Third Man’s Project
The third man didn’t want to miss out, so he got in too.
He said, “You guys have it easy.” “I told you I would redo the whole kitchen.” Everything is new, including the cabinets and countertops.
He took a deep breath. “After this, I’ll be living in sawdust for a month, but it’s worth it to spend a day with all of you.”
The others laughed, partly because he was being honest and partly because it all seemed so real.
The Quiet Fourth Man
After a few minutes of silence, they turned to the fourth man, who had been quietly reeling in his line.
“You’re quiet now,” one of them said. “What did you have to promise to get away today?”
The fourth man smiled, which showed that he thought it was funny.
“I didn’t make any promises,” he said next. I woke up at 5:30 this morning, switched off my alarm, and asked my wife, “Do you want me to stay home or go fishing?”
He paused for a bit to generate suspense, then smiled and added, “She said, ‘Take a sweater.'”
For a time, everything was quiet, and then all four men started to laugh.
The story of the fourth man didn’t have any power tools, paint, or wood in it. It was all about timing and how funny it was.
The Lesson from the Story
The pals agreed that the simplest method is sometimes the best one as they packed up their stuff that day. A little humor, charm, and a well-timed question may make a big impact, even in a marriage.
