At a cheerful memory examination, Dr. Halpern welcomed three elderly gentlemen, Arthur, Bernard, and Clarence, who sat together in the waiting room with their canes beside them. The doctor began by asking Arthur a simple question: “What is three times three?” After thinking carefully, Arthur confidently answered, “Two hundred and seventy-four!” The doctor politely noted his response and moved on to Bernard, who was asked the same question. With a mischievous grin, Bernard replied, “Tuesday!” leaving the doctor struggling to keep a straight face.

Finally, Clarence stepped forward, having watched his friends’ answers with growing amusement. When the doctor asked him what three times three equaled, Clarence immediately answered, “Nine.” Impressed, Dr. Halpern asked how he had figured it out so quickly. Clarence leaned closer and whispered, “Easy. I subtracted Tuesday from two hundred and seventy-four!” The room burst into laughter. Arthur wiped tears from his eyes, Bernard slapped his knee, and even the doctor had to put down his clipboard.

After the examination, the three friends strolled down a sunny sidewalk, continuing to tease one another about their unusual answers. Arthur insisted his number made sense in a different kind of mathematics, while Bernard joked that Tuesday was the answer to life’s toughest questions. Clarence simply smiled, delighted that his punchline had worked so well. Watching them leave, Dr. Halpern added one final note to their records: “Memory uncertain. Sense of humor excellent. Friendship still functioning perfectly.” The encounter was a cheerful reminder that laughter and lasting friendship can make even an ordinary day feel special.