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WHAT CAUSES ARTHRITIS?

A drunken Irishman sat down in a subway next to a priest. The man’s tie was stained, his face was red and plastered with red lipstick, a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.

After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, “Say Father, what causes arthritis?”

The priest replies, “My Son, it’s caused by loose living, too much drink, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and loose women, scruffy dressing and lack of a bath.”

The drunk muttered, “Well, I’ll be damned.” Then returned to his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?”

The drunk answered, “I don’t have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does.”

Writing Remember: your characters will often have hidden motives for the things they ask or do. Bring those motives into conflict, for serious or humorous results.