Siblings love to show off, especially when it comes to pleasing their parents. But this time, their mother had the last laugh.
Gerard, Howard, and Norman were three successful brothers who wanted to outshine each other with the most impressive gift for their mother’s 90th birthday. They gathered at dinner to boast about their presents.
“I built a sprawling mansion for Mom,” Gerard said with a smug smile. “It’s got ten bedrooms, a library, and even an indoor pool.”
Howard chuckled. “That’s cute. I sent her a Tesla with a personal chauffeur who’s always on call. She’ll never have to drive herself again.”
Norman leaned back in his chair, his smile even bigger. “Amateurs. I sent Mom a brown parrot trained for twelve years by monks. It knows the entire Bible. All she has to do is name a verse, and it will recite it perfectly.”
A week later, their mother sent thank-you notes.
“Gerard,” she wrote, “the house is lovely, but it’s far too big. I only use one room, and I have to clean the entire place!”
“Howard,” she wrote, “the car is beautiful, but I don’t go out much, and the driver has a temper worse than your father’s.”
“Dearest Norman,” she wrote, “you’re the only one who truly understands me. The roast chicken was delicious. But it was pretty small.”
Norman realized his “biblical” bird had become dinner instead of delivering divine inspiration.