All Comments on 'A Joke Ch. 02'

Keep writing.

Flo's husband is not too bright he must enjoy being made a fool of.

If nothing actually happens, and she is as remorseful for her actions and poor judgements as she is, there's no reason for Jim to get rid of Flo, especially since they obviously love each other. Flo better get rid of whatever was in her that made her disrespect her husband so much - I mean, the fact that she couldn't foresaw how badly he would react to it, especially after how their last prank went... Hopefully, she got a clue.

Kinda disappointed to see how Jim's son reacted to the whole thing - it's amazing he could empathy with his dad here. 'Guess he's a selfish little brat who more concern about his own happiness than with the people in his life.

I can understand people not forgiving Florence here... but, then again, you're not Jim, who put 24 years old of his life on this woman. It's always easily to say GET OUT when you have nothing invested in it, especially when it comes to fiction. Jim ain't a cuck - he's just a guy who's righteously pissed off at his woman, and tries to find a way to forgive her, while make it clear he won't take any of her nonsense anymore.

Nothing unforgivable happened here. So, as long as those characters agree to work on their marriage, I'm all for it.

was not going nuclear earlier. First time she laughed with Roger would have been an appropriate time. Definitely when they walked out with lipstick on his collar, he shouldn't have said a word. Just punt Roger's balls and ask why they don't think HIS joke is funny.

This was very realistic and I thank you for that!

Who knows? She does, but will never tell. She is a woman, and the only truth is what she says it is, right? They will always lie. You can take that to the bank.

GLAD YOU DONE THIS SECOND PART TO CONCLUDE THE STORY, YOUR STORIES ARE MORE BELIEVABLE THAN MOST CHEATING STORIES ON THIS SITE, REALLY ENJOYABLE, JUST 5*****.🙂

i was just trying to figure out if his wrists healed and left scars for him to remember for the rest of his life. he could look at the scars for the rest of his life and see and feel his wife`s love for him.(LOL).I can`t imagine any man going thru all that and take his wife back no matter what the lie detector says.A law suit for restraining him without consent would of been a good start but i guess the character was just to weak to confront his wife and so called friend with any real purpose no wonder they played jokes on him they knew he was too weak !!!!!!!!!!!

It's been here for 11 years and is still receiving comment.

I've read it several times over the years, and will read it again some time.

I hope the author still checks for comments.

Couldn't be bothered to do a head count, but I have the impression that the majority of readers would not have taken her back. Some have pointed out the pull of a long, stable marriage. I agree with that, and have a longer and more stable marriage than most, at 54 years and counting. BUT (!) her behaviour was so utterly appalling that it would have finished me.

Do you see what I've done? I've fallen into the same trap, of discussing it as if it's real.

Proof of a great story.

This is one of the most thought provoking stories on Literotica. But my mindset tells me that Roger and Flo did have sex upstairs. Not only that, but they spent weeks, if not months "practicing" their joke. The entire neighborhood, their friends and family, Jim's coworkers and practically the entire community knew Roger and Flo were cuckolding Jim. Jim had every reason to fear that Roger and Flo would not let Jim come out of the basement alive.

He should have called the police and had Roger arrested for kidnapping, false imprisonment, or whenever that was and gotten an injunction against him. In addition, he should also demanded that his wife cut off all communication with Roger, and that if at any time he found them in communication with one another in anyway, divorce would be the immediate result.

I think it’s a good ending to put things right. Thanks

Do you now? And what about next time she chooses to disrespect him? Seriously, this was a shitty ending. So much disrespect can't be erased after one fucking meeting

Good story, but he was a fool to put up with that disrespect from his wife. When Roger and Flo pulled that trick with the kissing, he should have attacked the bastard. He wouldn't be laughing when he was getting punched in the mouth.

As for Flo, he should have tossed her out on her ass and served with divorce papers that week. A quick call to the kids to tell them that his wife and Roger had started an affair would have chopped away any support from them. That would have smartened the bitch up pretty fast and he could think about taking her back if she came crawling home, begging for forgiveness.

he should line up for a pellet shoot or a quick relatively painless whipping.

he's got 'bitch remorse'

it's that fake remorse my generation had taught to us by our lazy boomer parents. i'm sure you've all seen it before. "now say you're sorry....good" that fake ass apology, and learning to show a sad pouty face. good job parents.

the real heroic parents take out a belt, or put away the x-box for a week. real life consequences are the bedrock of actually being sorry. because you teach the kid that 'actions have consequences'.

a lot of the worlds ills are solved with this method. the real debate is far more interesting. 'who gets to decide what punishment fits the crime?" stuff like that. but a bunch of sappy soft hearted and softer headed people have regressed the question to "should there ever be consequences?" which the answer is...'duuuhhh'

Very weak.

Seems like one ingredient was missing somewhere, like Roger never getting to work without a flat tire, but thanks.

that I wouldn't have warned him before I was let loose. He would have been praying I was still handcuffed by the time I was done with him.

I also agree with the comment that he should have coal cocked the guy after the "etching" deal. That would have stopped him and this story dead in its tracks.

I don't see how he allowed himself to be handcuffed in the first place. He had enough time to remove his second hand after he heard the click of the first handcuff.

The wife? In my house she'd have been gone for good instead of just two weeks.

The first chapter, though very well written, had me salivating for a continuation. But this doesn't seem like it was written by the same writer. The characters did not seem to be the same characters we met in the original. I was truly upset with Flo making the sounds of orgasmic satisfaction that was so easily recognized by her husband. That beats any and all lie detector tests. Jim had to fear they would kill him when they reappeared in the basement. Flo had to know her marriage was over when she was willing to be a part in a felony.crime against her husband and friend. How much did their friends and neighbors suspect?

I thought this would be how you ended it..... never in real life or any rational story. This ending is a huge fraud and sell-out! I sent you a short feed back after I read Part 1, I do not understand the handcuffs, It is too much, and the fake emergency, serious overkill. All this trouble for a joke..... NO WAY! I didn't even believe the first one! The handcuffs proved beyond a reasonable doubt they had sex. Any husband taking back this cheap,,disrespectful liar has a much sense as a bag of rocks! I gave it 3*** for the attempt but it was a very poor and unimaginative attempt at that!

In the questions did he ask about kissing, touching breasts or cocks, fingering her? Or was it all just intercourse based?

The wifes relationship with the neighber was obviously outside of what the husband knew for their joint humiliation of the husband , it was close enough to risk her marriage .He was still emotionally cuckholded , no way back .

This would be my favorite ending.

Other authors write much more realistic endings. This feels rushed and does not fit the tenor of part one.

He should sue his neighbor!.

Warned the first time

No going back

Still a great story. A 'cult classic' in the LW's section. *****

If roles were reversed hed be in prison, children would never talk to him and all the money etc would go to her. But because shes a woman it's not the same. As i said, what a load of rubbish.

I've given you 1* as there isn't a minus.

It's a good well written story and a, for me anyway, unique plot line. The only question I have is that if it was me in that situation during the first chapter, Roger had run off, they were alone in the basement, why didn't he ask his wife to pull her panties down and see if she had been fucked? If there was no cum present, he might have been able to tell if she had lubricated and he could have gone up and looked for a condom.

But it's fiction and a good plot, Not sure I would have taken her back, of course the 'cheaper to keep her' thing would be a good reason not to divorce.

He should have given her divorce papers at her sisters house!!! The amount of disrespect and physical abuse is beyond a REAL man's limit. I would have gone to the ER and documented the wrists, then called the Police and had both arrested for KIDNAPPING and Unlawful restraint!!!

This guy, or gal, is an excellent writer, BUT he creates villains that are

unforgivable then comes up with ridiculous scenarios to justify their

actions. It seems like every cheater immediately starts seeing a therapist

to find out why they did it. Must be therapist on every corner with openings

for new patients.

No wife or friend would do that to someone they cared anything about.

No husband would forgive this "joke".

NO WAY THATS A GOOD ENDING BECAUSE HIS WIFE GETS ALL THE BLAME AND ROGER CAN SIT BACK AND LAUGH AGAIN HE GOT OFF SCOTT FREE

First: thanks to Agena for the great story - though part 2 wasn't how I wanted things turning out. Yeah, in part 2, he folded. No wonder he is the frequent butt of jokes.

There have been many that have drafted their own ending to "A Joke." Most of them I really like.

Roger skates????!!!! HELL NO!!! Jim's a pathetic wuss!

...with a happy ending!

Being disrespectful to your spouse can lead separation and ultimately divorce. So a warning to you married folks.

3 for you. this is a very sad story and I know from personal experience that these kinds of sick jokes always go too far - other people get hurt both mentally and sometimes physically.

Good story. The fact that some people disagree with what character did is irrelevant. The story poses a difficult scenario. Those saying that some form of revenge on Roger was required bemuse me. What exactly is he supposed to do? Comit assault or some other crime? No. Roger was not the primary problem. Flo's disrespect was.

Sure he could call the police. But the cost to him for putting his children's mother in prison is severe.

Sue Roger? The monetary damages were negligible.

I cannot imagine an ending that resulted any better for Jim and his family.

I only fault Jim for continuing to be Roger's friend when the jokes started and not more forcibly dealing with his wife's disrespect. And for that he shares some portion of responsibility.

Yes, Roger needed a consequence commensurate with the illegal restraint and malicious nature of the “joke”.

This story is a prime example of how, even though I love to laugh...I do not even begin to think all pranks are funny. Too many pranksters have that malicious streak...

An interesting little tale as far as it went but this essay, with more thought and imagination, could have been made into an all time great story. 'Agena', obviously, has excellent command of the English language and her talent for keeping her readers enthralled is evident, such a pity she allowed 'herself' to fall into the trap that most authors fall into, that of rushing a story so that it can be presented to her adoring fans.

I believe, like a lot of wedded woman, a wife enjoys being married; a comfortable home, children, stature in front of other women, a reliable spouse who can take most of the pressure, financial security, and companionship in and out of the bedroom but, like a lot of married women, they have the feeling that the man they married falls short of their ideal and consequently every so often they have the need to espouse that 'niggle' by denigrating their husband by disrespect. This unfilial attention can be shown by refusing sex, having an affair, usually short and not very satisfactory, or joining in with other beings in causing their partner some embarrassment. Flo' is a typical 'edgy' female and allowed Rodger to encourage her occasional churlishness by joining in with his practical jokes. I believe Flo gets a certain amount of satisfaction whenever her negativity, regarding her husband comes to the fore and 'Agena' has shown this in her little tale, although she? may not have realised it. I think to balance the story Jim might have 'played a joke' on Rodger by tampering with his car, doing the tyres in or sugar in the 'gas' so he would be late for work and get the sack. Ha Ha, Hee,Hee.

As an aside I have noticed some comments refer to 'Agena' as a male; my understanding is that the word 'Agena' is the French name for a girl; also in Latin a female word ends in 'A' whereas the male nomenclature ends in 'US'. In my comments I have accepted 'Agena' as being female and please accept my apologies if I am incorrect. [Rockets to the moon]. Perhaps 'Agena' will 'come clean', if possible, and let the readers know who is writing.

traddisagain:

No need to wait around for Agena to "come clean," just take a look at his Literotica biography.

I looked at the comments and thought what a bunch of crap. Really does it matter if the author is male or female. The story was good the writing was good. If the story didn't suit you give it a 1* and move on.

I'm pretty sure that the end of the story will have upset the scum trolls that inhabit this website and who try to insult authors because they don't like happy endings in stories.

It a nice trick for a quickie right under your husband nose and they had time to cheat the test. But for me i wouldn't dirvoce her because of the sex but the disrespect she showed

Ughh! Too easily resolved.

It needed more development. I have nothing against a good reconciliation story, and you were on the good track, but you ended it too soon. I think the wife needed to do more. Plus, what about Roger? You left that hanging with no kind of retribution.

4 stars from me. Not a bad story and a understandable reconciliation even if lie detectors are not foolproof. The rating was not a 4 just because I'm not sure there should have been a reconciliation, at least not one that was so fast. His wife and Roger disrespected him bad, caused him to injure himself to the point he could have bleed out. They did more then pull a practical joke, they broke the law by imprisoning him. How his wife and his friend could be so callous to him and the other wife is just plain shocking. I think this story could have used another page if not another chapter.

Good story. Why does everybody drive next door tho? Can't they walk, or do they all live in giant estates?

Let me see. They cuff Jim and go arm in arm up the stairs to bedroom for a half hour and do nothing?? Not likely.

Flo needs psychiatric help. Immediately taking her back, without committing to some kind of help, is a mistake. They probably need marriage counseling as well because without an impartial outside opinion, Jim will have trouble trusting her.

So the author boils it all down to the question, "Can I still live with her and her obvious lack of love and respect for me?" The obvious answer, to me at least, is Heck No. Lie detector or no, cheated or not, cuckold or not, who would want to live with such a twisted and cruel persona?

But, did enjoy the story, and your telling of it.

It was a disappointing conclusion. There was no consideration of the disrespect the wife had shown despite it being a big issue for him prior to them meeting after the lie detector results were known. For me, intentional humiliation and disrespect are relationship breakers.

Evah_Rheddy

That was a pretty fast reconciliation. Legalities aside, that joke was disrespectful and cruel of his wife.

As far as Roger being a friend, that is sure one a friend I'd would jettison like milk a week past the expiration date. Too bad he didn't kick Roger in the nuts a couple of times after the 1st messing around joke, then the 2nd would have never occurred.

There are some things you just don't joke about with some people. This thing between husband and wife is one of them.

Roger and the wife got off to easily. This was a joke that went to far.

A couple of weeks separation and a few tears in exchange for humiliation and cruelty?

Yeah that's fair.....

This bitch better be performing ass to mouth for a couple of months.

The bloody writs are grounds for false imprisonment and assault. That would fix Roger for good and put fear in the wife. Way too much disrespect after fair warning previously. The raac is too fast with no penalty for the stupid wife. Marriage is likely cooked.

I guess all is well that ends well. She learned almost the hard way that respect is everything to her husband and she had to atone for her shortcomings.

Its unclear what they did about Roger. A little more in the epilog would have been good.

Really? You were going to leave it without the results to the lie detector testing? Without talking to the son? Without a full apology from Flo? Without any repercussion against Roger? With almost zero interaction with the neighbor wife, Alice? Really?

It sounds like you meant to write a story that would garner FTDS responses, i.e. fishing for comments.

Did they do IT or not? All Jim had to do to find out would have been to stick his hand into Flo's panties or cunt; ckeck for cum.

Guess that would have ruined the story.

CONDOMS, would take care of the cum, he should be able to detect from an emediate manual inspection (yes, demeaning for her, but that's her own fault) if there had been recent activity not with himself.

Wow, that was really pathetic. It really doesn't matter if she fucked or not, after the "first" "joke" he was wimp, after the last one it's all under the bridge. No sane man/woman can stand so much disrespect, hate, humiliation etc. So it's just go to hell bitch. I've had hope against hope that the second part will be more realistic... nope. Almost all comments are about sex or not, fuck you all, think just for a second how you would feel as the butt of the so called jokes, even if there was no sex...

Another "Wife Goes Stupid" story. So many ways to go stupid.

Weak. I would have told Roger after the lipstick "joke" that we would no longer ever see or talk to them as his "jokes" had crossed a line.

Some people will forgive anything to stay with the one they truly love. What they did to him was horrible, it was a terroristic act resulting in physical and mental injury. Joke or not why would a man’s wife do something like that for a few laughs. This is a tough one for me. They were so focused on pranking their spouses they never imagined the hurt being caused. Also I strongly believe in forgiveness when possible. This was over the line. I would have kicked her ass to the curb.

Better than Chapter 1 but still very weak. Too little, too fast.

What happened between Roger and Alice? Roger and Flo? Jim and Roger?

What did counseling reveal to Flo? Did Jim go to counseling?

It's interesting that they are next door neighbors but they have to get in their cars to go to the others house??

How,how,how could you EVER negate the disrespect???

The question is why did Flo feel it was okay to keep pulling practical jokes along with Roger on her husband when he warned her numerous times about the consequences... there had to be some hostility towards him that was not addressed for her to be so completely disrespectful, especially with another man... of course, some of the blame has to be on Jim for allowing it to get so far out of hand and not absolutely demanding they no longer have anything to do with Roger... especially after the kissing incident.

This version seems to be the obvious ending to the story. I do not believe there can be any other ending.

Yes, there are still problems, like why did she do it? What twisted sense of humor made her ignore the response she got for the first joke? How didn't she think what he would think? I think she got it at end and to start seeing a shrink might be a good idea.

I can understand the husband though. From his point of view, tied in the basement, what he heard was real and it almost does not matter if it did happen or not. The voices and imagination heart him badly and he injured his hands seriously trying to get free.

But, I do have some some problems with the husband. He should have stopped being friends with the other couple after the first joke. He should have realized these two are worse together and stop the friendship.

I thought of a different ending. I'm not a writer so I'll scatch my idea here.

The husband should ask for a divorce, start the hearing and just before the judge declares the divorce the husband will stop judge telling that asking for divorce was just a joke.

I thought of a different ending. I'm not a writer so I'll scatch my idea here.

The husband should ask for a divorce, start the hearing and just before the judge declares the divorce the husband will stop judge telling that asking for divorce was just a joke.

I think this was a good ending for how the story was written (she did not cheat, was just stupid). Yes she showed disrespect but I think this time it all fits into the stupid category. I can see why it has a lower point or stars score because it is not a BTB story. I think he was already to fry her ass but when she passed the lie detector test and said how she was going to consoling she realized how mean and stupid she was.

I think this was as good an ending as there has been out there. In Roger and Alice's defense, even though it sounded like there was sex involved, clearly there wasn't. I mean how stupid would they have to be to have a relationship right there under the nose of the husband. If they were going to have an affair they would do it in secret unless they didn't want to be caught. Now what they did was stupid and disrespectful but not adultery. Obviously they were going to pass the lie detector test. So get on with your lives, And keep away from Roger.

Interesting and definitely a good story. 4⭐

What he should have done when it first happened was take her to the bathroom and inspect her southern region if you catch my drift. A woman's down under area can hide the fact of intercourse. Well unless the guy had a 2in noodle.😂

Ir is YOUR story after all - No One could have done ir better! You're a brilliant writer. Full Marks 5-Stars!

Again, should have dumped her a long time ago.

Would have sued Roger for unlawful restraint. Would have won, too, if my lawyer was any good. Sometimes that what it takes to teach someone a lesson. The other way is to find an old coin, or jewel. Give that to someone SS payment to give Roger a beat down. Need to request some kicks to his balls as part of it.

AS credible endings go, & these can be as rare as hens teeth, this one was something of a chocolate fireguard!, IMHO! . .

Lie-detectors have ALWAYS been known to be completely beatable by cool, calm & collected people with good self-control. .

Such as con-men, good actors, clever comedians, and serious pranksters worth their salt, such as those excruciating and annoying ones who are constantly pranking all and sundry, and so self-obsessed that they themselves are their most appreciative audience, and are either oblivious or unconcerned about the worry angst, and collateral damage to those around them caught-up in their mischief-making! . AND as so graphically and repeatedly stated in Part I, if it was a prank, it was detailed, elaborate, in very poor taste, was a verbal AND physical assault in itself, and spoke volumes for their psyche! As a 'joke' it was a violent sick psychiatric crime!

More CUCK crap!!!! No way to get over the physical assault, kidnapping, and blatant disrespect!!!

er what???thats pretty dam soft ending

I did not like the ending to this. Regardless of what the lie detector test those vows were shattered.

"_________________________, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

That "joke" shows no love. Damned sure no comfort, nor honor. Caused him sickness and broke the forsaking all others in his presence. There can be no forgiveness because even if there had not been penetrative sex, there was adultery because she chose another man over her husband. There is absolutely no road back on this one.

JUST A CUCK TAKING BACK A DISRESPECTFUL SKANK

5 star. Nicely ended. Of course love triumphing would and did bring out the falsely-righteous basement dwelling misogynists who only read Literotica to see if they can find a BTB ending, no matter how undeserved it may be.

How can he trust her not to do the sex with anyone? The idea is there and will surely grow, until the 'real' ( if it hasn't already ) thing, happens once, then become a regular thing.

"""""Anonymous27 days ago

I did not like the ending to this. Regardless of what the lie detector test those vows were shattered.

"_________________________, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

That "joke" shows no love. Damned sure no comfort, nor honor. Caused him sickness and broke the forsaking all others in his presence. There can be no forgiveness because even if there had not been penetrative sex, there was adultery because she chose another man over her husband. There is absolutely no road back on this one.""""" I AGREE WITH anon's assestment.

Second reading: upped rating to 3stare from 1. Average but very dull and cuckold type ending.

The Problem

With all of the LW stories using a polygraph to determine if one or more people cheated or had sex is that there would have to be many questions to define cheating and/or sex. If all of the choices weren't nailed down then if the person being tested doesn't believe a blowjob is sex, answered that they never cheated or had sex with someone and answered "No" we could reasonably expect the polygraph to indicate truth that they didn't cheat. Hey, it was part of Bill Clinton's defense. How about a hand job, even through the pants? Finger fuck her whether or not she cums is irrelevant. Of course another reason not to trust the answers is the polygraph does not prove anything other than intimidate the person being tested, ask Floyd Fay. The questions have to be yes or no, no essay questions allowed. Do a little research and you will never want to take one. You can even find tricks that may help you deceive the test.

/

No spy has ever been caught due to a polygraph test, the CIA's Aldrich Ames passed several tests during the time he was selling secrets to Russia.

/

The abuses got so bad that in 1988 a federal law (Employee Polygraph Protection Act) made it illegal for companies to use it for hiring processes, of course being the government there are exceptions like law enforcement and Government Agencies. Go figure, the government letting them selves off of the hook. You can't do it out in the real world but we can in ours.

/

All in all a pretty entertaining story that hasn't spawned as many sequels as GA's 'February Sucks' but there a quite a number regardless. I've read that GA doesn't even respond to requests to write anothe sequel, can't say I blame him. Signed: BTW

One thing I don't understand is, why didn't the husband ask his wife to take off her pants/dress/panties/whatever and take a look & feel at her pussy? That would have been probably the best way to know immediately what the fuck did or didn't go on. And then, why not march into the master bedroom and check out the bed sheets for any fresh sweat or sex fluids?

I don't care if they could produce video evidence that they didn't actually fuck...my marriage would be done. They fucking handcuffed him to a pole and led him to believe his wife was committing the ultimate betrayal. And this was after how many other jokes where the husband said, "Cut the shit. You better not participate in these jokes of his, especially at my expense." Also, I don't understand why, in just about every cheating story where teenage children are involved, the children think "Oh, come on...Just a joke. No biggie." Even after their father explains to them the significance of their mother's betrayal, they always seem to side with the mother. When they first learn of the pending divorce, sure, I can see the kids just being kids and not wanting to have their families destroyed...but if you're in High School, let's say, and you can't understand the significance of infidelity in a marriage, you must be the most immature teenager on earth. Teenagers think the world is falling apart if their boyfriend or girlfriend of 2 weeks is seen kissing another person or even sitting in a lap looking cozy. I know, I've been there! LOL... Yet, fucking is somehow forgivable.

There’s only two possible endings to the scenario setup in this story: either they go to prison for the multiple felonies committed, or he dumps them in the local quarry! Any other response just shows that he’s a total wimp!

ZK

You did lose the wife as a friend though.

Your writing skills are very good, I enjoy your writing style. You should have stayed with your original feeling and not done the ending.

false imprisonment? kidnapping? assault? the list goes on. uh uh byby.

I think she did learn her lesson, but I don’t think he was forceful enough in telling her after the “make out” joke. I think making her aware of just how much she hurt him & telling her that another episode could lead to separation might have prevented this from happening.

Bill S.

There have been any number of alternative endings to this classic “joke” story, and several of them have been quite entertaining — e.g., the one where Roger actually put a nail in his shoe in order to fool the polygraph.

.

This one by the original author is, however, the best one, because it provided the single most logical reasons why tne reconciliation could work: 1) Total and genuine remorse and understanding from the wife, and 2) total and genuine love of the wife by the husband.

.

5 *****

15 years in and this story still resonated with a lot of people: "Pranking" episodes between family members is a common phenomenon and I'm sure that there have been innumerable instances where one spouse or another has exhibited real sexual attraction to some other person and "joked" about it--hopefully as a way to acknowledge it to the OTHER spouse and discuss it--without acting on it.

Well done, and thanks for sharing your creativity with us.

MLJ

2 * did not feel given the disrespect a RAAC end is appropriate.

Hate the ending. Expected a final practical joke with Mary in on it.

Good job, thanks for sharing your work!