It was a bright Saturday morning when four married friends decided to take a well-earned break and go on a fishing trip together. As they cast their lines into the calm lake, their talk naturally turned to what it had taken to get a “hall pass” from home for the day.
Each man had his own story — and each was funnier than the last.
The First Man’s Deal
The first man sighed and said, “You wouldn’t believe what I had to do just to be here today.”
The others looked over curiously.
“I promised my wife I’d paint the entire house this weekend,” he said, shaking his head. “Every wall, every corner. But I told her I needed just one peaceful day to clear my head before starting.”
The others laughed in sympathy. They all knew what it was like to earn a day off at home.
The Second Man’s Promise
The second fisherman wasn’t about to be outdone.
“That’s nothing,” he said proudly. “I told my wife I’d build her that new pool deck she’s been talking about for years. Drew the plans myself and everything!”
He leaned back with a grin. “This trip was my reward for finally agreeing to do it.”
The group chuckled again — it seemed every fishing trip came with its own price tag.
The Third Man’s Project
Not to be left behind, the third man joined in.
“You guys have it easy,” he said. “I promised to remodel the entire kitchen. New counters, cabinets, the works.”
He sighed dramatically. “I’ll be living in sawdust for a month after this, but it’s worth it to spend a day out here with you all.”
The others laughed — partly at his honesty, partly at how true it all felt.
The Quiet Fourth Man
After a few moments of silence, they turned to the fourth man, who had been quietly reeling in his line.
“You’ve been awfully quiet,” one of them said. “What did you have to promise to get away today?”
The fourth man smiled, clearly amused.
“Well,” he said, “I didn’t promise anything. I just set my alarm for 5:30 this morning, turned it off, nudged my wife, and asked, ‘Would you rather I stay home, or go fishing?’”
He paused just long enough for suspense, then added with a grin, “She said, ‘Take a sweater.’”
For a moment, there was silence — and then all four men burst out laughing.
The fourth man’s story didn’t involve paint, wood, or power tools — just clever timing and a sense of humor.
The Moral of the Story
As they packed up their gear later that day, the friends agreed that sometimes, the simplest approach is the best one. A little wit, a little charm, and a perfectly timed question can go a long way — even in married life.
