"Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?" asked the
lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded
my favorite mule, Bessie, into the . . ."

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted. "Just answer the
question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?"

Farmer Joe continued, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I
was driving down the road . . ."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the
fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman
that he was just fine. Now, several months after the accident, he is suing
my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the
question."

But the judge was interested in Farmer Joe's story and said to the lawyer,
I'd like to hear what he has to say about his mule, Bessie.

Joe thanked the judge and proceeded. "Well, as I was saying, I had just
loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down
the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and
smacked my truck right in the side.

"I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was
hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole
Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her
groans.

"Shortly after the accident, a highway patrolman came on the scene. He could
hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at
her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the patrolman
came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me.

"He said, 'Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you
feeling?'"
 

Barry