Friday joke (April 19)

Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein are burning in the flames of hell, wailing and moaning in agony.

Suddenly the devil appears, snaps his fingers, and the flames all disappear, much to the relief of the three.

Then the devil says, "Just for fun, I'm going to shake things up a little around here. Here's how that's going to work. Each of you will now go out and choose a fruit, your choice of what kind. You will then collect a dozen of such fruit, put them in a bag, and return back here with them in an hour. You will then be required to perform a certain trick with the dozen fruits that you have brought, and you will be told what the trick is when you return. One other thing.You must perform the trick without laughing."

"If you can do all this, you will be permitted to move up to Purgatory. It's not exactly a fun place to be, but it's a lot better than being here."

So the three go off, then return an hour later, each with a bag full of a dozen of the fruit each has chosen.

And the devil says "Now the trick. You will each swallow your dozen fruits, whole, one after another, without taking a break, and all the while not laughing."

"If you can gulp down all twelve fruits, one after another without stopping, and without laughing, you can go off to Purgatory."

So they start.

Stalin has brought a dozen lemons, and starts swallowing and gulping them down, one after another. Saddam Hussein has brought a dozen peaches and starts swallowing and gulping them down, one after another.

The both have to strain and struggle to keep doing it, but they're getting it done.

But for some reason Hitler just stands there, holding the bag he brought, with a stunned look on his face.

The devil says "Better get started, Hitler, or you'll blow your chance to move up to Purgatory!"

But Hitler says nothing, and just continues to stand there holding the bag, looking dazed and confused.

"Okay, whatever," the devil says, as Stalin and Saddam Hussein continue to strain and swallow, and gulp down their fruits.

Then the devil says, "I'm going to leave and come back in ten minutes to see how you're doing."

So he leaves and returns ten minutes later, but as he arrives he sees Stalin and Saddam Hussein both rolling around on the ground and laughing hysterically.

"Why are you two laughing," asks the devil, "you just blew your chance to get out of here! WHAT'S SO FUNNY???"

Shaking with laughter, but finally controlling himself, Stalin says "We ... we ... we just couldn't help it! Hitler opened his bag and showed us the fruit he brought, and ... HAHAHAHAHA!"

So the devil turns to Hitler and says "What in the world is in the bag, what kind of fruit did you bring?"

And Hitler says, "I brought ... a dozen ... PINEAPPLES!!"