Jake And Saul Are Two Old Retired Widowers. –

Jake and Saul are two old retired widowers who reside close to each other and do constant welfare checks on each other.

Much of their relationship is based on pragmatism rather than real friendship or personal affection.

One day, as he drinks his morning coffee, Saul opens the morning paper and turns to the Obits page.

He gets the shock of his life when he sees his own obituary in the column.

He realizes that the query for info on him by the local newspaper several months earlier was in preparation for this event.

He correctly surmises that it is a mistaken entry from their database, premature and erroneous..

It still excites and rankles him, so he calls Jake up.

“Jake, are you up yet?”

Jake sleepily answers, “Yeah, but I’m only now starting my coffee.”

“Jake. open the newspaper to page 31.”

“Why, what’s in the paper?”

“Jake, get the paper and open it to page 31 NOW!”

“Ok, Ok, I’ve got the paper here, so what’s in page 31?”

“Jake, open the paper to page 31 already!”

“All right, don’t be such a pain in the butt so early in the morning already. So, what’s on page 31 that’s so important?”

“Jake, look at the bottom of column 4.”

“Why? What’s that story on?”

“Jake, read the story at the bottom of the column already!”

“OK, OK, I’ll start reading the column if you stop yelling in my ear!”

The paper rustles for a few seconds, and then a long silent pause ensues.

Finally, Jake comes on the line quietly and fearfully,

“So Saul, where are you calling me from right now?”