The waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and peppermint tea. Three elderly gentlemen sat side by side, their coats folded neatly over their knees and their canes resting beside them. Dr. Halpern smiled as he prepared to test their memories.

First was Mr. Arthur, who sat proudly in his chair. “Arthur, what is three times three?” the doctor asked. Arthur frowned, moved his lips silently, and finally announced, “Two hundred and seventy-four!” Dr. Halpern raised an eyebrow but politely recorded his answer.

Next came Mr. Bernard, who leaned forward with a mischievous grin. When asked the same question, he answered confidently, “Tuesday!” The doctor struggled to maintain his composure while Bernard chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.

Finally, Mr. Clarence stepped forward. He had watched his friends carefully, his eyes sparkling with amusement. When Dr. Halpern repeated the question, Clarence answered without hesitation, “Nine.” The doctor smiled in surprise. “Excellent! How did you figure that out?”

Clarence leaned closer and whispered, “Easy. I subtracted Tuesday from two hundred and seventy-four!” The room erupted in laughter. Arthur laughed until he wiped his eyes, Bernard slapped his knee, and even Dr. Halpern had to put down his clipboard.

After the examination, the three friends walked slowly down the sunny sidewalk, teasing one another about their answers. Arthur insisted his number was correct in a different kind of mathematics, while Bernard declared that Tuesday was always the right answer to life’s difficult questions.

Clarence simply smiled, delighted that his joke had landed so perfectly. Their laughter echoed along the street, attracting warm smiles from passersby who couldn’t help enjoying the sight of three old friends having such a wonderful time together.

Watching them leave through the window, Dr. Halpern wrote one final note on their medical charts: “Memory uncertain. Sense of humor excellent. Friendship still functioning perfectly.”