Читать книгу The Spa Lover's Guide to Europe - Marc Lemezma - Страница 10

You and a group of friends are sitting around the open fire in an old English country pub. It is late in the evening and everyone is feeling very relaxed. One of your group returns from the bar with a tray of drinks and hands them out. Your friend Michael reaches for his pint of beer. You turn to Michael and place your hand firmly on his shoulder.

‘You know, Michael, you are a true friend. And what I like best about you is your dependability, no, your predictability. You are always there for us, Michael. Let’s face it, you come to this pub almost every Friday evening without fail, and you never need to be asked what you want to drink – always a pint of beer. Tomorrow you will go to the football, Sunday you will spend with your girlfriend, and Monday it’s back to work, 8.30 sharp.’

Then, from a pocket, you take a small envelope that has ‘To Michael’ written across the front. You ask him not to open it yet while you remove a deck of playing cards from their case and begin to shuffle them. You lay the cards on the table in front of Michael and ask him to cut them anywhere he chooses.

You now instruct him to open the envelope and read the note inside, aloud.

‘Dear Michael,’ he begins, ‘I have already explained this evening how much I value your friendship and your dependability. You will be aware that I sometimes see things others do not, so it will not surprise you that I am more aware of your predictability than you are.

‘I have already foreseen where you will be tonight, what you will choose to drink and your plans for the next few days. Not particularly mystifying, I would agree, but I have also predicted which card you would cut to.

‘Michael, you have cut to the king of clubs – a truly confident and dependable card if ever I saw one.’

Michael laughs a touch dismissively and takes a mouthful of his drink and turns over the card he cut to. The entire gathering is covered in beer as Michael splutters in amazement. It is the king of clubs.