One day Lion summoned all the other animals in the jungle. “Each of you must tell a joke,” he said. “But if anyone fails to laugh, I’ll kill the person who told it. Monkey, you go first.”

Monkey began, “Two men go into the bar…” When he delivered the punchline, everyone roared into laughter, except Tortoise. So Lion pounced on Monkey and killed him.

Next up was Elephant. He told his joke and, again, everyone laughed except Tortoise. So Lion pounced on Elephant and killed him.

The animals were furious with Tortoise, but no one dared to move.

Tiger began his joke, but when he was about one sentence in, Tortoise suddenly rolled over and began kicking his feet into the air, giggling his head off.

“What’s wrong with you?” roared an irate Lion. “Tiger isn’t even finished with his gag yet!”

“I’m sorry,” said Tortoise, gasping between laughs, “but Monkey’s joke was simply too funny!”