>
>
> An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub
> and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but
> serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.
>
> An hour later, the man has finished the three beers and orders three
> more. This happens yet again. The next evening the man again orders and
> drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire town is
> whispering about the Man Who Orders Three Beers.
>
> Finally, a week later, the bartender broaches the subject on behalf of
> the town. "I don't mean to pry, but folks around here are wondering why
> you always order three beers?"
>
> "Tis odd, isn't it?" the man replies. "You see, I have two brothers,
> and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each
> other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as
> a way of keeping up the family bond."
>
> The bartender and the whole town were pleased with this answer, and soon
> the "Man Who Orders Three Beers" became a local celebrity and source of
> pride to the hamlet, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come
> to watch him drink.
>
> Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The
> bartender pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of
> the evening. He orders only two beers. The word flies around town.
> Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the brothers.
>
> The next day, the bartender says to the man, "Folks around here, me
> first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of one of
> your brothers. You know-the two beers and all."
>
> The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, "You'll be happy to
> hear that both my two brothers are alive and well. It's just that I,
> me-self, have decided to give up drinking for Lent."