How’s Julie?” the leader persisted. They were playing some kind of a game. The street gang knew the rules. Bill did not, but he kept his cool as he answered, “Julie? If Julie’s been around, I haven’t seen her.”

The leader looked Bill squarely in the eye and asked, “How’s Chuck?” The thought came to Bill. This gang is out to have a good time. Right now they are having it at my expense, making me uncomfortable because I don’t know what’s going to happen next.

Suppose I take them by surprise, and we all have fun doing it? “Chuck?”

Bill replied. “Haven’t you heard? Chuck is a streetcar conductor!” “A streetcar conductor?,” the whole gang repeated, almost in unison. It was the last thing they expected to hear.

Since my husband and I are both Scandinavians, Bill began to talk in a heavy Scandinavian accent. “Yah, those streetcar conductors are pretty smart fellows. Why, the other day I go on a streetcar and sat down. I thought the seat next to me was empty, but to my surprise there was a small pocketbook lying there. I wonder who lost it. ‘Not to worry,’ I told myself. ‘It was lost on the streetcar, and it is the streetcar conductor’s problem to find the owner. Those streetcar conductors are pretty smart fellows.’

“Well, we bumped along for a minute, and then the streetcar jerked to a stop. The streetcar conductor looked around and called out, ‘Madison!’ And would you believe it, just as big as life, Madison got up and got off that streetcar.” — Beliefnet.com