A wife discovered a note from her husband on the refrigerator one morning. The note, which was written in a tone that was almost businesslike, dealt with a topic that many people could find unexpected or uncomfortable.
The letter from the husband said:
“My lovely wife,
You will undoubtedly realize that, at fifty-seven, you are no longer able to meet my needs. You are a wonderful wife, and I am really happy with you. I thus hope that after reading this letter, you won’t mistakenly believe that I’ll be spending the evening at the Comfort Inn Hotel with my 19-year-old secretary.
Do not be alarmed; I will return home before midnight.
It appears that the husband was trying to give the most rational, emotionless explanation of himself. He made it apparent that he would be spending time with his much younger secretary since his wife, who is 57 years old, was no longer able to satisfy his “certain needs,” which he assumed were related to sexual closeness. He also promised her that he would return home by midnight.
Although it’s unclear what the husband was expecting from this letter, it’s unlikely that he foresaw the wife’s astute and amusing reply. He had no idea that his wife would not only make a fantastic comeback, but also that her response would cause him to reconsider his course of action in a way he had never anticipated.
The husband returned home late that evening, probably hoping for a peaceful evening to think or perhaps anticipating that the stress of his letter would have subsided. Rather, he discovered another note on the dining table, waiting for him.
The wife had replied, and her response would be remembered as one of the most well-planned retorts in the annals of funny marriage tales.
The note from the wife said:
“Thank you for being honest about my age of 57 in your letter, which I received. I want to use this chance to remind you that you are 57 years old as well.
I teach math at our local college, as you are aware. I would want to let you know that Michael, one of my students and the assistant tennis coach, will be joining me at the Hotel Fiesta as you read this. Like your secretary, he is 19 years old, youthful, and macho.
With one little exception—19 goes into 57 more often than 57 goes into 19—you, as a prosperous businessman with a strong mathematical background, will realize that we are in the same predicament. I won’t be home until tomorrow, for that reason.
This may appear to be a straightforward response to a potentially offensive letter, but upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the wife had deftly flipped the script. Rather than getting angry or irritated, she made her point with a smart sense of humor and her mathematical understanding.
For several important reasons, the wife’s remark was astute:
She implied that age wasn’t a problem in their marriage by pointing out that they were both 57 years old. Her husband’s belief that his age and needs differed from hers was successfully refuted by this.
Reminiscent of her husband’s relationship with his secretary, she mentioned Michael, a young, macho 19-year-old assistant tennis coach. In order to demonstrate that both spouses were in the same situation, the same age and setting were purposefully used.
The wife really came into her own at this point. She created a reasonable and amusing argument by drawing on her experience as a math instructor. She astutely noted that the younger man (Michael) had the mathematical advantage of being able to “satisfy” her more frequently than she could him by stating that “19 goes into 57 more times than 57 goes into 19.” In addition to proving her point, this mathematical comparison gave it a lighthearted and thought-provoking edge.
The wife did not become upset, cry, or attempt to confront the situation directly. Rather, she used a humorous yet sardonic sense of humor to disarm her spouse. She transformed a potentially disastrous circumstance into a lighthearted but incisive remark that gave her spouse much to ponder.
The underlying lesson this story provides about relationships and communication, in addition to the wife’s quick wit, is what makes it so excellent. Marriage is essentially a partnership in which both spouses must be able to communicate with one another and resolve disagreements amicably and respectfully. When couples are faced with difficult circumstances, humor may be a very useful tool for navigating them without needlessly raising tensions.
In this instance, the wife defused a potentially contentious scenario and restored control of a situation that could have easily descended into chaos by gently persuading her husband to change his behavior using comedy. She responded to her husband’s letter in the ideal way by using wit and sophisticated math.
Ultimately, this humorous tale serves as a reminder of the value of humor in interpersonal interactions. The wife’s rational, humorous, and perceptive reaction left the husband with more questions than answers, even though he would have anticipated a reactive or emotional response. It’s an excellent illustration of how a well-timed, astute retort can transform a potentially uncomfortable or painful circumstance into one that deepens mutual understanding and fosters amusement.
When life throws a curveball at your relationship, keep in mind that sometimes, like this clever woman, the greatest way to manage a difficult circumstance is with a little wit, humor, and a keen sense of intellect!