Once upon a time a powerful Emperor advertised for a new Chief Samurai. Only three applied for the job: a Japanese, a Chinese and a Jewish Samurai.
“Demonstrate your skills!” commanded the Emperor.
The Japanese samurai stepped forward, opened a tiny box, and released a fly. He drew his samurai sword and “swish”; the fly fell to the floor, neatly divided in two!
“What a feat!” said the Emperor. “Number Two Samurai, show me what you can do.”
The Chinese samurai smiled confidently, stepped forward and opened a tiny box, releasing a fly. He drew his samurai sword and “swish, swish”; the fly fell to the floor, neatly quartered!
“That is skill!” nodded the Emperor. “How are you going to top that, Number Three Samurai?” Number Three Samurai stepped forward, opened a tiny box, release one fly, drew his Samurai sword, and “swoooooosh” flourished his sword so mightily that a gust of wind blew through the room. But the fly was still buzzing around!
In disappointment, the Emperor said, “What kind of skill is that? The fly isn’t even dead.”
“Dead, schmed,” replied the Jewish Samurai. “Dead is easy. Circuncision. THAT takes skill!”
Vocabulary Help
- advertise – anunciar
- blow (blow, blew, blown) – soprar
- box – caixa
- dead – morta
- draw (draw, drew, drawn) – sacar, desembainhar
- fall (fall, fell, fallen) – cair
- flourish – fazer um movimento floreado
- fly – mosca
- gust of wind – rajada de vento
- once upon a time – era uma vez
- powerful – poderoso
- reply – responder
- skill – habilidade
- step forward – dar um passo a frente
- tiny – pequena
- top that – superar