The Bricklayer

[Guest Palindrome]

Dear Sir,

You have requested that I provide additional information concerning my response to block #3 in the accident report. You stated in your letter that my response, "trying to do the job alone", was not detailed enough. I trust that the following information will clear up any questions that you may have.

I am a brick layer by trade. On the date of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. After finishing loading the bricks into the barrel, I then went back to the ground and untied the rope. Now, you will note in block #2 of the accident report that I weigh 165 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were buried four knuckles deep in the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighs approxi- mately 50 pounds. (I refer you again to my weight found in block #2 of the accident report form.) As you might imagine, I began a rapid rate of descent down the side of building. Somewhere in the vicinity of the third floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen the injuries I received as I fell onto the file of bricks. Fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel, weighing more than the rope, came immediately down upon me, breaking both of my legs. Now I hope I have furnished the information you required as to how the accident occurred.

[Guest Gorskar]

Ouch. :cry:

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

Nasty, but made me laugh. "lost his sence in mind", heh.

[Guest madu]

Palindrome, that's funny!! What is more funny is that (sorry to disillusion everyone) I have heard THE very same story, word by word, but by a Russian satiric. It was in Russian but totally similar..... hehe

[Guest SirGaz]

Sorry to disillusion people further, but I heard this very story well over 10 years ago while at uni.

[Guest davy]

a version has also been put to music (some years ago) and is sung by scottish folk singers.

can't remember the title but it is very funny. ;) :)

davy.

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

I was under the impression it was a joke...

[Guest Richie M]

Yeah, i've been informed by the old git in the office that this joke/story was knocking about in the 60's

[Guest Palindrome]

It's one of those stories that travels all over the place in different guises. I was shown this in the early nineties by some college friends of mine. I also posted it in the Amiga electronic magazine Grapevine (anyone remember that?). You can also find it on the internet, so it's pretty popular. It's that kind of slapstick humour that's universal.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Still good though ;)

[Guest spacemonkey]

Well yes, this one is as old as the preverbial hills

http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/bricks.htm

Apparently earliest sighting in 1918