NOTE: Ben Herman is a patient on the Hospice Floor at the Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro. He is a local legend when it comes to storytelling, shooting the breeze and making music. Jim, a speech therapist at the Medical Center provides Ben with a typewriter to capture his stories on paper. Ralph’s job is to pass them on to the Smithville Review.

The project is intended to be a "win/win"…good therapy for Ben and worthy of a chuckle or two for the readers.

Remember, Ben is the "star of the show". Jim and Ralph are the supporting cast.

Some of this story could be true. But, all of it could certainly be fiction. I’m not really sure. Anyway, it was told to be true.

Two mule traders were talking one day. Sam said his mule had come down sick. He went on to say that the mule would almost uncontrollably shake and then get on the ground and roll. He then asked John what he would recommend since Sam knew that John had also once had a sick mule.

John responded by saying that his mule was given turpentine; noting that it was powerful stuff.

Well, with that recommendation, they continued talking about mules and politics and even offered their thoughts on how to solve the world problems. Then they went on their respective ways.

A few days later, Sam and John met at the farm supply store in town. Sam said, "I thought you gave your mule turpentine when it got sick.

John said, "I did. Sure did."

Sam said, "I gave my mule turpentine and he died the next day. What do you suppose happened?"

John said, "I don’t know. But my mule also died."