Happy 2nd Day of Autumn, readers! As I listen to the rain patter outside my window and watch the red and gold leaves drift from the trees, I know here in Nova Scotia, fall has officially arrived! So brighten up this fall day with your Saturday smile!
There was once a young man named Joe who immigrated to Canada from a non-English-speaking country. Joe was in his twenties and had left his home because he wanted to see more of the world. But Joe had two things against him - he couldn't understand a word of the Canadian's language, and he somehow needed to get a job.
Well, ever the optimist, Joe headed out of his tiny apartment the day after he moved to Canada, intent on finding a job somewhere. So he walked down his street and turned left onto Main Street. He strolled down Main Street, listening for any English phrases he could perhaps pick up.
As Joe walked along, he passed the town's theatre. He suddenly heard a lovely singer warming up her voice. "Mi mi mi mi!" He took notice but didn't bother stopping, knowing he had to find a job. Next, he passed the town's annual pie eating contest. Ten contestants were lined up at a picnic bench and were chanting, "Forks and knives! Forks and knives!" Joe gave them an odd look and continued on his quest. He next passed The Sweet Shoppe, the town's candy store, where he heard a small child giggling happily, "Goody-goody gumdrops! Goody-goody gumdrops!" Joe smiled to himself and continued down Main Street. As he was nearing the end of the street, he passed one of the last shops, an electronic store but stopped when he saw flashing lights in the display window. What to his wondering eyes did appear but a little man inside a little box proudly showing off something he called a vacuum. As the commercial ended, Joe caught the last phrase loud and clear. "Plug it in!" sang the man. "Plug it in!"
Disappointed that there were no "Help Wanted" signs hanging in any window, Joe decided to head home. But as he cut across a side street, he was halted by two uniformed men. "Stop! We're the police!" they proclaimed. Joe didn't understand them, but they looked official, so Joe stopped.
"Look, young man," said one officer firmly, "there's been a murder here and we're wondering if you know by any chance who did it." Joe was overjoyed! He didn't understand a word the official looking man said, but he did know that he had a chance to try out his new English. Joe cleared his throat and in his best soprano purred out, "Mi mi mi mi!" The officer looked aghast.
"With what weapons, sir?" Joe grinned and began chanting loudly.
"Forks and knives! Forks and knives!" Stunned, the officer managed to say,
"That's it, we're going to have to take you down to the police station, sir." Joe just laughed.
"Goody-goody gumdrops! Goody-goody gumdrops!" The officer gulped and turned to his assistant.
"Looks like we're going to have to get the electric chair out for this one," he murmured. Joe just gave a toothy grin and began singing,
"Plug it in! Plug it in!"
There was once a young man named Joe who immigrated to Canada from a non-English-speaking country. Joe was in his twenties and had left his home because he wanted to see more of the world. But Joe had two things against him - he couldn't understand a word of the Canadian's language, and he somehow needed to get a job.
Well, ever the optimist, Joe headed out of his tiny apartment the day after he moved to Canada, intent on finding a job somewhere. So he walked down his street and turned left onto Main Street. He strolled down Main Street, listening for any English phrases he could perhaps pick up.
As Joe walked along, he passed the town's theatre. He suddenly heard a lovely singer warming up her voice. "Mi mi mi mi!" He took notice but didn't bother stopping, knowing he had to find a job. Next, he passed the town's annual pie eating contest. Ten contestants were lined up at a picnic bench and were chanting, "Forks and knives! Forks and knives!" Joe gave them an odd look and continued on his quest. He next passed The Sweet Shoppe, the town's candy store, where he heard a small child giggling happily, "Goody-goody gumdrops! Goody-goody gumdrops!" Joe smiled to himself and continued down Main Street. As he was nearing the end of the street, he passed one of the last shops, an electronic store but stopped when he saw flashing lights in the display window. What to his wondering eyes did appear but a little man inside a little box proudly showing off something he called a vacuum. As the commercial ended, Joe caught the last phrase loud and clear. "Plug it in!" sang the man. "Plug it in!"
Disappointed that there were no "Help Wanted" signs hanging in any window, Joe decided to head home. But as he cut across a side street, he was halted by two uniformed men. "Stop! We're the police!" they proclaimed. Joe didn't understand them, but they looked official, so Joe stopped.
"Look, young man," said one officer firmly, "there's been a murder here and we're wondering if you know by any chance who did it." Joe was overjoyed! He didn't understand a word the official looking man said, but he did know that he had a chance to try out his new English. Joe cleared his throat and in his best soprano purred out, "Mi mi mi mi!" The officer looked aghast.
"With what weapons, sir?" Joe grinned and began chanting loudly.
"Forks and knives! Forks and knives!" Stunned, the officer managed to say,
"That's it, we're going to have to take you down to the police station, sir." Joe just laughed.
"Goody-goody gumdrops! Goody-goody gumdrops!" The officer gulped and turned to his assistant.
"Looks like we're going to have to get the electric chair out for this one," he murmured. Joe just gave a toothy grin and began singing,
"Plug it in! Plug it in!"