Desperate for work, a man went to the owner of a local circus and asked if there was any opening. The owner told him that he needed a high-wire act, but that the job required walking without a net over the lion’s pit while wearing a monkey suit.

In no position to quibble, the man took the job, put on the suit and climbed to the high wire amid the stunned gasps of the crowd. Stepping gingerly on the thin cord, he began to shuffle his way across, but quickly lost his footing and tumbled into the lion’s cage. “Help!” the man screamed as the lion pounced on him, “This beast is going to eat me!”

“Shut up!” the lion said angrily. “You want to get us all fired?”

— Hi Lama