Jim LaFleur, Author at Common Sense Evaluation

Featured Funny Short Story

The Electric Fence Incident

November 30, 2023April 21, 2024 Jim LaFleur

Some people send newsletters every Christmas to keep friends and family informed as to what happened during the year. Well, this is my version, but it is only about one incident last summer.

We have the standard 6-foot fence in the backyard, and I heard about burglaries increasing dramatically in the entire neighborhood.

To make sure this never happened to me, I got an electric fence and ran a single wire along the top of the fence. Actually, I got the biggest cattle charger that Tractor Supply had, made for 26 miles of fence. I then used an 8-foot-long ground rod and drove it 7.5 feet into the ground. The ground rod is the key; the more you have in the ground, the better the fence works.

One day, I was cutting the grass in my backyard with my 6-hp mower. The hot wire is broken and laying out in the yard. I knew for a fact that I had unplugged the charger. I pushed the mower around the wire and reached down to grab it and throw it out of the way. It seems as though I hadn’t remembered to unplug it after all.

Now, I’m standing there, I’ve got the running lawnmower in my right hand and the 1.7 gigavolt fence wire in the other hand. Keep in mind, the charger is about the size of a marine battery and has a picture of an upside-down cow on fire on the cover. Time stood still. The first thing I notice is my balls trying to climb up the front side of my body. My ears curled downward, and I could feel the lawnmower ignition firing in the backside of my brain. Every time that Briggs & Stratton rolled over, I could feel the spark in my head. I was literally at one with the engine. It seems as though the fence charger and the POS lawnmower were fighting over who would control my electrical impulses.

Science says you cannot crap and pee at the same time. I beg to differ. Not only did I do both at once, but my bowels emptied 3 different times in less than half a second. It was a Matrix kind of bowel movement, where time is creeping along, and you’re all leaned back, and BAM BAM BAM you just crap your pants 3 times. It seemed like there were minutes in between, but in reality they were so close together it was like exhaust pulses from a big block Ford turning 8 grand.

At this point, I’m about 30 minutes (maybe 2 seconds) into holding onto the fence wire. My hand is wrapped around the wire, palm down, so I can’t let go. I grew up near a farm, so I know all about electric fences, but my father always had those POS chargers made by International or whoever that were like 9 volts and just kind of tickled. This I could not let go of. The 8-foot-long ground rod is now accepting signals from me through the permanently damp Ark-La-Tex river bottom soil. At this point, I’m thinking I’m going to have to just man up and take it, until the lawnmower runs out of gas.

“Damn!” I think, as I remember, I just filled the tank! Now the lawnmower is starting to run rough. It has settled into a loping run pattern, as if it had some kind of big lawnmower race cam in it. Covered in poop and pee and with my balls on my chest, I thought, “Oh God, please die. Pleeeeze die”. But nooooo, it settles into the rough lumpy cam idle nicely and remains there, like a big bore roller cam EFI motor waiting for the go command from its owner’s right foot.

So here I am in the middle of July, 98 degrees, 80% humidity, standing in my own backyard, begging God to kill me. God did not take me that day; he left me there, covered in my own fluids, to writhe in the misery my own stupidity had created.

I honestly don’t know how I got loose from the wire. I woke up laying on the ground a while later. The lawnmower was beside me, out of gas. It was later in the day, and I was sunburned. There were two large dead grass spots where I had been standing, and then another long, skinny dead spot where the wire had laid while I was on the ground still holding on to it. I assume I finally had a seizure and, in the resulting thrashing, somehow let go of the wire. Upon waking from my electrically induced sleep, I realized a few things:

Three of my teeth seem to have melted.
I now have cramps in the bottoms of my feet and my right butt cheek (not the left, just the right).
Poop and pee, when all mixed together, do not smell as bad as you might think.
My left eye will not open.
My right eye will not close.
The lawnmower runs like a sum ma bitch now. Seriously! I think our little session cleared out some carbon fouling or something, because it was better than new after that.
My balls are still smaller than average, yet they are almost a foot long.
I can turn on the TV in the family room by farting while thinking of the number 4 (I still don’t understand this). That day changed my life. I now have a newfound respect for things. I appreciate the little things more, and now I always triple check to make sure the fence is unplugged before I mow the lawn.

The good news is that if a burglar does try to come over the fence, I can clearly visualize what my security system will do to him. And THAT gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling all over, which also reminds me to triple check before I mow.

I originally wrote this in 2005. I thought it was a good time to republish it.

Featured Funny Short Story

Rupert

November 29, 2023April 21, 2024 Jim LaFleur

A woman is in a pet shop looking for a protector for her home. She sees a variety of animals from talking birds, to Pitbulls and even exotic cats. Being well off, she decides to ask the shopkeep what the best available was.

“Ah! Yes, you must be interested in Rupert!” the shopkeep says excitedly with a massive grin.

The shopkeep guides the woman over to a small cage in the back corner of the shop, covered with a white blanket. When the shopkeep removes the blanket, she is shocked to see that Rupert is a VERY tiny wiener dog, more skin than meat.

“Ah! Before you say anything. I know what you’re thinking – but trust me, Rupert is completely worth the asking price. Let me demonstrate.”

The shopkeep opens the cage and lifts Rupert out by the scruff, setting him on the counter.

“Rupert! The chair.”

In the blink of an eye, Rupert devours the chair whole.

“Rupert! The table.”

In an equally swift chomp, Rupert devours the table.

The woman, now completely verklempt, hands the shopkeep the exorbitant asking price for Rupert. Confident her husband will be impressed with what she’s found, the woman rushes home with her new domicile protector.

She was hoping to sneak Rupert inside and demonstrate for her husband how special Rupert is. Unfortunately, he was in the garage as she pulled in and noticed Rupert laying in the back seat. “Honey… what’s this?” Her husband inquires, giving Rupert a befuddled thrice over.

“This is Rupert. Our new guard dog!” She exclaims. Before she could explain further, her husband, tears in his eyes from laughing, bellows:

“Rupert my ASS!”

Featured Short Story

The Poison Plot

November 21, 2023April 21, 2024 Jim LaFleur

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all.

Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li’s poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law’s bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, ‘Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.’

Li-Li said, ‘Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do’. Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, ‘You can’t use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body’.

Every other day, prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. ‘Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.’ Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn’t had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law’s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, ‘Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.’

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. ‘Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.’

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you?

We don’t expect the World to change. But if we changed ourselves, we will change the World.

Featured Funny Short Story

The Unseen Comedian of Puzzola

November 14, 2023April 21, 2024 Jim LaFleur

Long ago, in the town of Puzzola, lived a middle-aged man named Earl. Earl was no ordinary fellow; he had a peculiar companion that most adults couldn’t boast of – an imaginary friend named Randy.

Randy had been with Earl ever since he was a child. While most imaginary friends grew up and faded into the annals of memory, Randy had not only stuck around but had developed quite the quirk. He had an uncontrollable flatulence problem, and boy, did he make sure everyone knew it!

On a typical day in Puzzola, Earl strolled through the town square, his imaginary friend by his side. Randy was invisible to everyone except Earl, so passersby couldn’t understand why Earl would randomly burst into laughter or make strange gestures. To them, he looked like the town’s goofball.

Earl and Randy’s adventures were nothing short of hilarious. They visited the local library, where Earl pretended to read serious books, only to burst into fits of giggles every time Randy let out a rip-roaring toot that sounded like a trumpet.

Next, they headed to Puzzola’s quaint café, where they ordered a round of coffee and muffins. Earl couldn’t help but chuckle at his friend’s invisible antics, like moving chairs or making napkins float through the air, while letting out the loudest, most comical farts.

As they walked through the park, Earl’s laughter became infectious, and soon, a group of kids began to follow them, laughing uproariously without knowing why. Earl and Randy had turned an ordinary day into a sidesplitting comedy show.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the Puzzola Museum of Art. While Earl admired the priceless paintings, Randy took it upon himself to add a touch of absurdity to each exhibit. He made abstract, interpretive “fart art” in the galleries, which left Earl in stitches. When Earl noticed the museum security guards frantically sniffing the air, he couldn’t contain his laughter.

Earl and Randy’s shenanigans were the talk of Puzzola. People couldn’t decide if Earl was a genius comedian or just a little crazy. But everyone agreed that life in the town had become a lot funnier since Randy’s arrival.

However, it wasn’t all fun and games. Earl occasionally had to apologize to serious-minded individuals who were less amused by Randy’s antics. Yet, his infectious laughter and disarming charm won over most people.

As the sun began to set over Puzzola, Earl and Randy found themselves at the local comedy club. The audience was in for a treat, as Earl stepped on stage and introduced his invisible friend. The entire crowd was in stitches, laughing so hard that tears streamed down their faces.

Earl knew that life with an imaginary friend like Randy was far from ordinary. It was a life filled with laughter, joy, and a bit of embarrassment. But in a world where serious matters often dominated, their humorous escapades brought a breath of fresh air, or should we say, a gust of fresh air.

And so, in Puzzola, where normal was overrated, Earl and Randy proved that even adults could have the most unusual, hilarious companions, and that a good laugh could make life a lot better. Even with a little flatulence thrown in for good measure.

Many years later, Earl, at the ripe age of 98, passed away peacefully in his sleep. He left behind a lifetime of laughter and unforgettable memories. But for Randy, life took a poignant turn. With Earl’s departure, Randy was left to live alone in a world where no one could hear his farts, and the world suddenly seemed a little less colorful, a little less fragrant, and a lot less funny.

Featured Funny Short Story

Heaven’s Waiting Room

October 17, 2023April 21, 2024 Jim LaFleur

Norman had always imagined Heaven to be a place filled with pearly gates, golden streets, and angels strumming harps. But when he woke up after a rather unfortunate accident involving a banana peel and a flight of stairs, he found himself in what appeared to be a dimly lit bingo parlor. The walls were a peculiar shade of mauve, and the air was thick with the scent of mothballs and old people. Norman scratched his head and looked around in disbelief.

“Am I in the right place?” he muttered to himself.

A kindly elderly lady sitting nearby, her bingo card scattered with chips, glanced over and gave him a sweet, toothless grin. “Oh, dearie, you must be new here. Welcome to Heaven’s Waiting Room!”

Norman blinked. Heaven’s Waiting Room looked remarkably like the run-down bingo halls he used to avoid back on Earth. The carpet was a confusing mix of patterns, and a flickering fluorescent light above buzzed annoyingly.

“But I thought Heaven would be, well, grander,” Norman mumbled, still trying to process this strange twist of fate.

The elderly lady patted the empty seat next to her. “Come on, dear. No use complaining. Might as well play a round of bingo while we wait for the big guy upstairs to call your name.”

Norman hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a seat. After all, what harm could a game of bingo do?

As he settled in, he noticed that everyone in the room was playing, but no one seemed to be winning. The numbers being called were as odd as the situation itself.

“B-47… I-22… G-3… W-99,” the announcer called out, his voice carrying a peculiar mix of authority and amusement.

Norman dabbed his card as the bizarre numbers kept coming. The other players seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and chatting with one another. The elderly lady beside him struck up a conversation.

“I’ve been waiting here for ages, you know,” she said with a wistful sigh. “I’ve never won a game, but it’s quite fun. It’s Heaven’s way of keeping us occupied until our turn to meet the boss.”

Norman nodded, still bewildered but starting to find the whole situation oddly charming. “So, what happens when someone finally wins?”

The elderly lady leaned closer, as if sharing a well-kept secret. “Oh, no one knows, dearie. Some say you get an extra scoop of angel food cake, others believe you get to meet the angels themselves. But it’s all just speculation. No one’s ever won.”

Norman chuckled at the absurdity of it all and focused on his card. The announcer continued with his nonsensical numbers, and Norman couldn’t help but laugh along with the rest of the room. It was strangely delightful, a far cry from what he had expected from the afterlife.

Hours passed, and Norman still hadn’t won a single game. But he didn’t mind. He was making friends, sharing stories, and having the time of his life in Heaven’s Waiting Room. It turned out that Heaven wasn’t just about grandeur and divine revelations; sometimes, it was about the simple joys of laughter and camaraderie.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Norman’s number was called. “N-12!” the announcer declared.

Norman jumped up in excitement, his heart racing. He shouted, “Bingo!”

The room fell into chaos. Old people, who had been peacefully dabbing their cards just moments before, now turned into feisty warriors. They yelled and pushed each other, fighting over Norman’s winning card.

The elderly lady beside him transformed into a bingo berserker, swinging her cane like a sword and yelling, “It’s mine, you hooligans!”

The announcer, now sweating profusely, tried to intervene, but his pleas were drowned out by the elderly bingo brawl. The numbers kept getting called, but nobody cared anymore. It was bingo Armageddon.

Norman couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. He watched as the chaos unfolded, thinking that perhaps Heaven’s Waiting Room was more entertaining than he had ever imagined.

Eventually, the angels had to step in to restore order. They separated the elderly combatants and retrieved Norman’s winning card.

“Congratulations, Norman,” one of the angels said, a bit out of breath. “You’ve won the rarest prize of all—a lifetime of chaos and laughter in Heaven.”

Norman grinned from ear to ear. As he surveyed the heavenly bingo parlor and the elderly bingo brawlers he’d unintentionally stirred up, he realized that Heaven was even zanier than a carnival fun house. And as luck would have it, his new job in the afterlife? He was Heaven’s newest bingo caller, tasked with keeping the chaos going. Norman couldn’t help but wonder if he’d taken a wrong turn at the pearly gates and really ended up in Hell.