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A man and woman were married for 40 years. When they first got married the woman told her husband, "I'm putting a box under the bed. You must promise never to look in it." And so it was. In all their years of marriage, he honored her request and never looked.
On the afternoon of their 40th anniversary, however, curiosity got the best of the husband. He retrieved the box, cautiously lifted the lid, and peeked inside. In the box he found three empty beer bottles and $187 in small bills. Quickly he closed the box and put it back under the bed.
But now that he knew what was in the box, his curiosity was doubled as to why.
That evening the couple went out for a special dinner at their favorite restaurant. After dinner the husband could no longer contain himself, and he confessed. "I am so sorry. All these years I kept my promise and never looked. Today, however, the temptation was just too much. I gave in and looked in the box. My dearest, I am so very sorry. But now I need to know: why do you keep the bottles in the box?"
Taken aback, the woman thought for a moment. Soon she answered, "I guess after all our wonderful years together, you deserve the truth. Whenever I was unfaithful to you, I put an empty beer bottle in the box under the bed to remind myself never to do it again."
Stunned, the man said, "I'm disappointed and I'm saddened, but over the years I know how temptation can be strong. I guess such few times of unfaithfulness aren't that bad, considering all our years together." The two embraced and made their peace.
A while later the husband asked, "But what about all that money in the box?"
"Oh, that!" the wife answered. "Whenever the box filled up with empties, I cashed them in."
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