In this lighthearted and amusing short tale, three elderly gentlemen visit their doctor for a routine memory test. Wanting to check how well their minds are holding up, the doctor begins with a simple question meant to gauge basic recall and cognitive sharpness.

He asks the first man, “What is three times three?” The gentleman thinks hard, squints his eyes, and finally blurts out, “274.”

The doctor nods politely, though the answer is wildly incorrect. Clearly, his memory isn’t quite what it used to be. Next, the doctor turns to the second man and repeats the question. Without hesitation, the man proudly announces, “Tuesday!”

His confidence only makes the answer more ridiculous, and the doctor realizes this man is even more confused than the first. Finally, the doctor poses the same question to the third man. Unlike the others, he sits up straight, smiles, and confidently replies, “Nine.”

His accurate response stands in hilarious contrast to the wildly off-the-mark answers given by his friends. The humor of the story comes from this sharp difference — two men completely lost, and one man who proves his memory is still perfectly intact.