The Iceberg Incident: A Tale of Friendship and Practical Jokes

Once upon a time, there was a man named John who was very fond of playing practical jokes on his friends. One day, John decided to pull a particularly elaborate prank on his best friend, Dave.

John called Dave and said, "Hey, Dave, I just won the lottery! I'm a millionaire now!"

Dave was naturally excited for his friend and asked him how he planned to spend all his newfound wealth.

"I'm going to buy a yacht and sail around the world!" John exclaimed.

Dave was happy for his friend, but couldn't help feeling a little envious. "I wish I could go with you," he said.

"Well, actually, I was hoping you could come with me," John said. "I need someone to help me sail the yacht."

Dave was over the moon. He had always dreamed of traveling the world and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. "Of course I'll come with you!" he said.

John then explained that they would need to take a sailing course before they could set off on their adventure. He found a course that was being offered on a nearby lake and they signed up.

The day of the course arrived and John and Dave arrived at the lake. They were both eager to start their journey, but as they looked out over the water, they saw that it was covered in a thick layer of ice.

John didn't let this deter him, however. He had a plan. He had secretly hired a team of ice-breakers to clear a path for their yacht.

Dave was amazed at John's resourcefulness and couldn't wait to set sail. They boarded the yacht and set off across the lake.

The ice-breakers had done a great job, and the yacht was gliding smoothly over the water. John and Dave were both having a great time, but then they heard a loud cracking sound.

Suddenly, the yacht started to tilt to one side, and before they knew it, they were in the freezing water.

John managed to swim to the shore, but Dave was struggling. He was flailing around in the water, unable to swim to safety.

John saw that his friend was in trouble and knew that he had to act fast. He took off his shoes and jumped back into the water.

As he swam towards Dave, he noticed that his friend was clutching onto something. It was a large, heavy object that was pulling him down.

John grabbed hold of Dave and started to swim back to shore, but he was finding it difficult with the weight of the object dragging them both down.

Finally, they reached the shore, and John was able to pull Dave out of the water. As they lay there, shivering and gasping for breath, John turned to Dave and said, "Well, I guess that wasn't the best practical joke I've ever played."

Dave just looked at him, drenched and freezing, and said, "You think?"

They both burst out laughing, and John realized that this was a joke that he would never forget. From that day on, he swore off playing pranks on his friends, but he and Dave continued to sail together, enjoying many more adventures and laughs along the way.

After the incident on the lake, John and Dave grew even closer as friends. They both recognized that the prank had gone too far, but they were able to laugh about it and move on.

In fact, the experience brought them even closer together. They realized that they had a bond that could withstand even the most difficult situations.

Over the years, they went on many more sailing trips together, but they always made sure to check the weather forecast and avoid any potentially dangerous situations.

Despite his newfound caution, John never lost his sense of humor. He found new ways to make his friends laugh, but he always made sure that the jokes were harmless and didn't put anyone in danger.

As for Dave, he never forgot the day he nearly drowned in the icy waters of the lake. But he also never forgot the friend who had risked his own life to save him.

Years later, when John passed away, Dave delivered a heartfelt eulogy at his funeral. He spoke of the many adventures they had shared together and of John's infectious sense of humor.

As Dave looked out at the mourners, he couldn't help but smile, knowing that John would have found a way to make them all laugh, even in the midst of their grief.

In the end, John's legacy was not just his love of practical jokes, but his ability to bring joy and laughter into the lives of everyone he met.