But Seriously

On the way into work this morning I'm telling Jackie that a lot of people I test will ask how long I've been doing this.  In the past I've always told them the truth but if someone asks me today I'm going to tell them that this is my first day and what has kept me in the past from being a road test examiner is a medical condition called the Incredible Hulk disease which only manifests itself if I get very nervous.

Sure enough my second client of the day, Isaiah, a very nice and genuine 18 year old boy who recently moved here from Minnesota, arrives for his test.  As we are going through the residential area I warn him about an approaching pot hole.  "Be careful of that one" I say.  "A mini cooper drove into that awhile back and it took a week to find it."  Isaiah responds, "Wow!"

Then a short while later he asks me how long have I been doing road tests.  I tell him about this being my first day and the Incredible Hulk disease and add that I'm pretty sure I have it under control as long as he doesn't do anything to get me too n n n nervous.  "OK sir" responds a concerned Isaiah.  "I will try my best".

Of course I have to confess that I've actually been doing this for 15 years and Isaiah confesses that he's known to be pretty gullible and we go on from there.

Later on I mention to Isaiah that the only thing I really know about Minnesota are the Ollie and Lena stories.  He has not heard any of them before so I share one.

"Ollie and Lena are from the old country you know.  They are taking a drive one Sunday and pass by a little country airport that has a sign advertising biplane rides for $25 dollars.  'Oh Ollie' says Lena.  'I really would like to take a biplane ride'.  'No Lena' says Ollie.  'Not today'.  Lena persists so Ollie says; 'Lena, you know we don't have the money'.  'Oh please, please, please' says Lena.  'It's the only thing I ever wanted to do in my whole life!  Can't we just stop and look at the biplane?'

Ollie agrees and as they are walking around the plane the pilot strools up.  He asks them if they would like a ride and Lena tells him no, they don't have the money.  The pilot says that he has an idea.  He will take them up on a ride and if they don't say a peep then the ride is free but if he hears something then they need to cough up the $25.  Lena looks at Ollie and promises that she will keep quite and so the three get into the biplane, pilot in the front and Ollie and Lena in the back seat.  The pilot then proceeds to do the barrel rolls and loop de loops and sure enough, not a peep out of Ollie and Lena.

When he lands and starts to taxi the pilot yells back that he is very impressed that he did not hear a peep.  'Ya' says Ollie.  'And it wasn't easy when Lena went flying out' ".

The punch line given I look at Isaiah and his mouth drops open, a total look of both shock and surprise on his face.  I debate for a brief second if now is the time to remind him that this was only an Ollie and Lena story and decide that no, one confession a day was all that I'm required.