Three builders were working on a skyscraper. At lunchtime, they all sat down to eat their packed lunches.
The first builder opened his lunchbox, sighed, and said, “Oh, no, not again! Ham sandwiches! If I get ham sandwiches one more time, I’m jumping off this building!”
The second builder opened his lunchbox and groaned. “Ugh, cheese sandwiches! Every single day! If I get cheese sandwiches again tomorrow, I’m jumping too!”
The third builder opened his lunchbox, looked inside, and sadly shook his head. “Peanut butter and jelly. It’s always peanut butter and jelly. If I see peanut butter and jelly one more time, I’m also jumping!”
The next day, at lunchtime, the three builders sat down.
The first builder opened his lunchbox, saw ham sandwiches, and without a word, he stood up and jumped off the skyscraper.
The second builder opened his lunchbox, saw cheese sandwiches, and true to his word, he also stood up and jumped off the skyscraper.
The third builder opened his lunchbox, saw peanut butter and jelly, and with a mournful cry, he too stood up and jumped off the skyscraper.
At the funeral, their wives were consoling each other.
The first wife said, “I don’t understand it. My husband never said anything about hating ham sandwiches. If only I had known, I would have made him something different!”
The second wife wept, “My poor dear! He always ate his cheese sandwiches without complaint. I had no idea he was so unhappy. I would have made him anything else!”
The third wife looked at them, bewildered. “I don’t know what you two are talking about,” she said. “My husband always packed his own lunch!”