“Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered.
Getting back together, they discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother.
The first said: “I built a big house for our mother.
“The second said: “I sent her a Mercedes with a driver.
“The third said: “I’ve got you both beat.
You know how Mom enjoys the Bible and you know she can’t see very well.
I sent her a talking parrot that can recite the entire Bible.
It took twenty monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him.
I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years but it was worth it.
Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it.
“Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks.
She wrote to the first son: “Milton, the house you built is too big. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house.
“She wrote to the second son: “Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never used the Mercedes… and the driver is SO rude.
“She wrote to the third son: “Dearest Melvin,
you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes…
The chicken was delicious.”
Variations to this Story
1) Trying to eclipse his brother’s gift of a Cadillac, a Hollywood producer paid $10,000 for an amazing mynah bird to give his mother on her birthday. The bird spoke 11 languages and sang grand opera. On the night of her birthday he called her long distance. “What did you think of the bird, Mama?” he asked.
“Delicious!” she said.
2) A certain lady who lived on Park Avenue loved birds and her husband was rich enough to indulge her every whim. For a birthday present he found her a parrot that spoke eleven languages and that cost him exactly $100 for each language. When he got home, he said, “What d’ya think of that wonderful bird I sent you?
“It was elegant,” she answered. “It’s in the oven right now.”
The husband’s face turned purple. “In the oven? he shouted. “Why, that bird could speak eleven languages.”
The wife asked, “Then why didn’t it say something?”