My Brother-in-law & Other Stories
By Johnny P. Novera

Just a joke

If there is anything I like of my friend, Pabs (short for Pabling), it is his jokes. I would say he cracks the best jokes ever when we were in high school.

One day he delivered me a joke I could never forget. Here is what happened:

It was the Sto. Niño fiesta in January and Pabs invited me, together with our mutual friend, Pol, to his aunt's house in the suburbs where they have the annual fiesta. We arrived at half past noon, so I was already a little hungry. The food was laden on the table and, in fact, anumber of visitors were there are eating when we arrived.

Shortly after, the aunt came out to welcome us. Pabs introduced us to her and she then invited all of us to eat. But Pabs gracefully declined. “Thank you, Auntie,” he explained, “we just dropped by to greet you on your fiesta. Sorry, we are already full. Honest, we are already full! We just had lunch at the other house.”

I was puzzled and horrified but was too shy to protest, as was my character in my young days. we bid goodbye and went put of the house.

After walking some distance, as of by signal, Pol and I grabbed him together by the collar. He broke out into loud laughter, holding on to his stomach, as he laughed and laughed. We finally laughed too. Later he apologized and said he was just trying to play a joke on us. He brought us to Dainty Restaurant.