An Irishman moves in to a small village in County Kerry, Ireland. He walks in to the pub the first evening , and orders three pints of beer. The barman raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.
An hour later, the man has finished the three beers, and orders three more. This happens yet again.
The next evening, the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire town is talking about the man who orders three beers at a time.
Finally, a week later, the barman broaches the subject on behalf of the town. "I don't mean to pry, Sir, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers at a time".
"Tis odd isn't it" the man replied. "You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond".
The bartender and the whole town were pleased with this answer, and soon The Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and a source of pride to the town, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.
Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The barman pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the evening; he orders only two beers.
The word flies around town, and a Mass is quickly arranged to pray for the soul of one of the brothers.
The next day the barman says to the man, "Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know, the two beers and all...."
The man ponders this for a minute, and then replies, " You'll be happy to hear that both my brothers are alive and well. It's just that I, myself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent".
An hour later, the man has finished the three beers, and orders three more. This happens yet again.
The next evening, the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire town is talking about the man who orders three beers at a time.
Finally, a week later, the barman broaches the subject on behalf of the town. "I don't mean to pry, Sir, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers at a time".
"Tis odd isn't it" the man replied. "You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond".
The bartender and the whole town were pleased with this answer, and soon The Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and a source of pride to the town, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.
Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The barman pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the evening; he orders only two beers.
The word flies around town, and a Mass is quickly arranged to pray for the soul of one of the brothers.
The next day the barman says to the man, "Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know, the two beers and all...."
The man ponders this for a minute, and then replies, " You'll be happy to hear that both my brothers are alive and well. It's just that I, myself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent".
