maitland
07-12-2006, 10:44 AM
While serving with the 51st Highland Division in Sicily during WW2, the well-known piper MacKay was captured by the Germans and sent off to a prison camp. It was full of men who had been there since the retreat to Dunkirk, and the camp routine was a marvel of military efficiency.
MacKay was assigned a guide to show him the ropes.
That evening, as they sat in the Mess after the meal, someone stood up and said "Forty three." There were smiles and chuckles, but MacKay was mystified. Then another man stood up and announced " Seventy one!" Laughter broke out. MacKay looked around, even more puzzled. A third man rose and said "Twenty five." Guffaws filled the room.
MacKay turned to his guide. "What's going on here? Have all of you gone round the twist?"
The guide stifled his laughing and replied, "You see, we've been here so long that we've told all the jokes over and over, so finally someone had the idea of numbering them."
MacKay thought there was something weird about this, but the following evening, wanting to fit in with the rest, he waited until after the meal, stood up, and said "Seventy one."
No one laughed; there was dead silence.
Embarrassed, Mackay quickly sat down. Then he turned to his guide and said, "What's the matter? Someone told that one last night - why did no one laugh when I told it?"
"Well you see," replied the Guide, "it's HOW you tell a joke..."
MacKay was assigned a guide to show him the ropes.
That evening, as they sat in the Mess after the meal, someone stood up and said "Forty three." There were smiles and chuckles, but MacKay was mystified. Then another man stood up and announced " Seventy one!" Laughter broke out. MacKay looked around, even more puzzled. A third man rose and said "Twenty five." Guffaws filled the room.
MacKay turned to his guide. "What's going on here? Have all of you gone round the twist?"
The guide stifled his laughing and replied, "You see, we've been here so long that we've told all the jokes over and over, so finally someone had the idea of numbering them."
MacKay thought there was something weird about this, but the following evening, wanting to fit in with the rest, he waited until after the meal, stood up, and said "Seventy one."
No one laughed; there was dead silence.
Embarrassed, Mackay quickly sat down. Then he turned to his guide and said, "What's the matter? Someone told that one last night - why did no one laugh when I told it?"
"Well you see," replied the Guide, "it's HOW you tell a joke..."