Lying for a Dog

A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon
a group of a few boys about 10 years of age, surrounding a
dog. Concerned that the boys were hurting the animal, he
went over and asked them what they were doing.

One of the boys replied, "This dog is an old neighborhood
stray. We take him home with us sometimes, but only one of
us can take him home. So we're having a contest: whichever
one of us tells the biggest lie can take him home today."

Of course, the Reverend was shocked. "You boys shouldn't be
having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched
into a 10-minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don't you
boys know it's a sin to lie?" and ending with, "Why, when I
was your age, I never told a lie."

There was complete silence for about a minute. As the
Reverend smiled with satisfaction that he'd gotten through to
them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh. "All right," he said,
"give him the dog."