Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered greatly, each becoming very wealthy. They all met up one night for a few beers and started to discuss what gifts they'd each chosen to send their elderly mother for her birthday.
The first son said, "I built a huge mansion for our mother, with large grounds and a pool."
The second replied, "Well that's nothing, I sent her a top of the range Mercedes with her own personal driver."
The third smiled and said, "I've got you, both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible, and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took 20 monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000.00 a year for 10 years, but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."
The evening drew to a close with the third son proud to have the beating of his brothers.
Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks:
"Milton," she wrote the first son, "The house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I still have to clean the whole house."
"Marvin," she wrote to the second son, "I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never use the Mercedes. And the driver is just plain rude!"
"Dearest Melvin," she wrote to her third son, "You were my only son to have the good sense to know what your old mom likes. That chicken was delicious."
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