Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, "Martha, I'd like to ride in that there airplane."
And every year Martha would say, "I know Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."
One year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said, "Martha, I'm 71 years old. If I don't ride that airplane this year I may never get another chance."
Martha replied, "Stumpy, that there airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."
The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal, I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you, but if you say one word it's ten dollars."
Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word. They landed and the pilot turned to Stumpy, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't."
Stumpy replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."
译文:
斯达姆和他的妻子
斯达姆和他的妻子玛莎每年都要去国家展览会。每年斯达姆都会说，“玛莎，我想坐一坐那里的飞机。”
但是每年玛莎也会说，“我知道，但是坐一坐那架飞机要花十美元，十美元啊，就这么没了。
有一年，斯达姆和玛莎去展览会，斯达姆说，“玛莎，我都已经71岁了。如果我今年不乘那架飞机，那我以后永远都没有机会了。”
玛莎回答道，“亲爱的，乘那架飞机要十美元，十美元可就那么没了。”
正好，飞行员听到了他们的谈话，就说，“老伯，我可以和你们做个交易。我让你们做这趟飞机，如果你在乘坐过程中保持安静，一个字都不讲，那么我就不收你钱。但是，只要你说了一个字，那就得付十美元。
斯达姆和玛莎答应了，于是就坐上了飞机。飞行员在空中做各种危险刺激的动作，但是老两口一点声音都没有。他仍然重复这种把戏，但还是没有听到他们发出一个字。飞机着陆后，飞行员问斯达姆，“天哪，我竭尽所能想让你们大叫，但是你们还是不出声。”
斯达姆回答道，“当玛莎掉下去的时候，我想叫的，但是，想想十美元就这么没了，就没敢叫了。”