A man who smelled like a
distillery flopped on a subway seat
next to a priest. The man’s tie
was stained, his face was plastered with
red lipstick, and a half
empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his
torn coat pocket. He
opened his newspaper and began reading. After a few
minutes, the
disheveled guy turned to the priest and asked, „Say,
father, what causes
arthritis?“
„Mister, it’s caused by loose living, being with
cheap, wicked women,
too much alcohol and a contempt for your fellow
man.“
„Well I’ll be.“ the drunk muttered, returning to his
paper.
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man
and
apologized. „I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so
strong. How long
did you have arthritis?“
„I don’t have it
father. I was just reading here that the Pope
does.“
