One day, Sally, Lauren, and Samantha are talking amongst eachother in math class. Sally says to Lauren, "When the teacher calls on you to answer what 1 + 1 is, shout 'Purple Plums!'." Lauren says, "Okay." When the teacher calls on Lauren, Lauren responds by shouting, "Purple Plums!" Astonished, the teacher says, "Oh my goodness, go to the Principal's office young lady!" Confused, Lauren obeys.
When she gets there, the Principal says, "Lauren, what are you doing down here?" Lauren replies by saying, "Well, I got kicked out of math class just for saying 'Purple Plums!' to the teacher." The Principal looks at here for a moment and says, "Lauren, you are officially expelled from this school!"
Lauren walks home, and goes inside upon getting there. Her mother gets up from the couch and says, "Lauren, what are you doing home from school?" Lauren says, "For some reason, I got kicked out of math class and expelled from school all for saying 'Purple Plums!' to the teacher and Principal!" Her mother jumps out of her seat and says, "Lauren, you are officially grounded! Leave this house and think about what you have done!"
Lauren leaves the house. She is very sad and confused about what is going on with this phrase that seems to get everyone upset. She is walking when she encounters a police officer on the sidewalk. The police officer says, "What are you doing here? You should be in school." Lauren looks at him sadly and says, "Here is what happened. First, I got kicked out of math class, then I got expelled from school, and finally I got kicked out of my own home, all for saying 'Purple Plums!' to everyone." The police officer immediately slaps cuffs on her and says, "You are under arrest, I think it is time you spent some time in a correctional facility!" Lauren goes back the the police station with the officer.
Eight years later, Lauren is free. She is walking down the street when she sees here friends Sally and Samantha. She goes up to them and says, "Ya know, I am really angry that you told me to say 'Purple Plums!' to everyone. But if you just tell me what it means, I will forgive you." Sally looks at Samantha and then back at Lauren, and says, "Okay. Just go across the street, into that building over there, up onto the roof, and look out toward the north, and you will know exactly what 'Purple Plums!' means."
Lauren excitedly runs across the street, into the building, up the stairs, onto the roof, and looks out toward the north. Then she shouts "Wow, I finally know what 'Purple Plums!' means!" She runs down the stairs and out the building to go tell her friends, but is hit by a car when crossing the street.
The moral of the story: Look both ways when crossing the street.
