CECIL AND THE POPE
So, this bloke walks into a pub one day and goes up to the bar. Before he can say anything the barman says, "put your money away John, Cecil's already paid for your pint."
"well that's very kind" said John, "i don't even know a Cecil, who is he?"
"thats him, sitting in the corner", says the barman.
So John goes over to thank Cecil for his generosity and Cecil says not at all. They talk for a few minutes before John finally plucks up the courage and says, "I'm really sorry, but i honestly don't remember meeting you before, how do you know who i am?"
"Honest to God, I know everybody in the world!" exclaims Cecil.
"that can't be right!" exclaims John right back at him. "how can you possibly know everyone in the world?"
"Oh but I do! how can i prove it to you?"
"I want to see Tony Blair, so i can tell him what an arse he is, do you know Tony Blair?"
"Oh but of course!" exclaims Cecil.
So Cecil and John take the train down to London town. When they get off the train at King's Cross, John is surprised to see Tony standing there on the platform.
"Hello Cecil! long time no see!" shouts Tony.
Wow!, well now John is shocked, but not convinced that Cecil knows everyone. So John ups the ante.
"Do you know Bill Clinton? Take me to see Bill Clinton!" says John.
Cecil agrees to take John to America to meet Bill Clinton. They go to Heathrow, get on a plane straight to Washington DC, where Bill promptly meets them at the airport, greets Cecil warmly and invites them for a game of golf. John politely refuses as he wants Cecil to prove that he knows even more people.
"who else do you know then, Cecil? I want to meet Fidel Castro!"
Cecil, as he is a very patient man, agrees. They hop back on the plane and head to Havana, where again, Fidel meets them at the airport.
"Welcome to my country, Cecil! it has been far too long!" says Fidel. Cecil hugs him and turns to John,
"So now do you believe me that i know everybody in the world?"
"Well that is certainly impressive", muses John, "but i'm still not entirely convinced. For one last time, take me to Rome to meet the Pope."
Cecil, though tired, agrees. They hop back on the plane and fly all the way to Italy.
This time, nobody meets them at the airport.
"Ha!" says John, "I knew it"
"The Pope is a very elderly man", says Cecil, "We will have to go to meet him, you can't expect him to jump out of his chair to meet me every time i come to town!"
So Cecil and John jump in a taxi and head to the Vatican City.
"Now, John, the Pope is a very busy and pious man, I will have to go inside St Peter's and talk with him, see if he's alright to meet you, is that okay?" John agrees, and waits with the crowds in St Peter's Square.
The next thing he knows, the Pope comes out and stands on his balcony overlooking the square, and stood there right beside him is Cecil!.
"Well I never!" exclaims a shocked John.
"It certainly is a sight" agrees a friendly Swiss Guard who is standing next to him, who just happens to speak English.
"But who's that bloke standing next to Cecil?"
