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Two women are standing on a street corner, waiting for the light to change…
Suddenly, out of the corner of their eyes, they notice a man slowly making his way across the street.
He’s hunched over, taking tiny, tentative steps, as if he’s walking on a tightrope…
His brow is furrowed, and every step seems to be calculated, his face a mix of concentration and discomfort.
The first woman, Susan, elbows her friend Carol and nods toward the man…
“Oh, you see that poor guy over there? He definitely has arthritis… “
“My grandfather moved just like that. Can’t bend his knees, can’t straighten his back, poor thing.”
Carol shakes her head confidently, “Arthritis? No, he definitely has bursitis… “
“My cousin had it, and he walked the exact same way. Trust me, that’s bursitis.”
Determined to settle this, they approach him…
“Excuse me, sir,” Susan says politely but urgently, “we couldn’t help but notice your, um, condition.”
Carol jumps in, nodding enthusiastically, “Yes, we’ve been trying to figure it out… “
“My friend here thinks it’s arthritis, but I’m sure it’s bursitis. Would you mind clearing it up for us?”
The man takes a deep breath, clearly annoyed, but also somewhat relieved that he’s reached solid ground…
“Well, ladies,” he begins slowly, catching his breath…
“You were wrong when you thought I had arthritis, and she was wrong when she said I had bursitis… “
“And I was wrong when… “
“I thought I had to fart.”
