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The British, it is known, have a fine sense of humor. At the drop or a hat, they will as the expression goes: "pull your leg" or "legs" as the case may be. So it is a happy day when the pulling of legs is pulled off successfully.

Just such a day arrived when my dad decided to give us a special treat. He hired a limousine to take us for lunch at a nice hotel in Oxford, his alma mater. Little did he imagine what awaited him.

As our limousine pulled up to the driveway, we all noticed a red carpet had been laid out for the occasion.

Leaping to conclusions, my sister leaped out of the car shouting, "He's here! He's here!"
This drew quite a crowd. It was amazing. Not only all the bell hops, but the concierge, the hotel owner, a few dozen locals and even town mayor came forth beaming with a big smile to greet us. I didn't realize my dad was that famous! To the crowd, he must have been the very vision of a great American man in his large black Stetson hat.

"This way, sir." My family was ushered into the hotel's great hall where there were about a hundred seats and a podium on a stage. Dad had no idea what was expected of him, so he said nothing, smiled and played along.

Then, being seated on the stage behind the podium he watched as the mayor stood at the podium to make his introduction.

"Friends, ladies, and gentlemen, I would like you all to give a warm welcome to..." and here he swept his hand towards dad, "...to the governor of Georgia!"

"Oh, alright," Dad thinks, "I'll do my Billy Graham then." Dad casually stands up and walks to the podium in a dignified manner.

"Good afternoon to you all!" He adds a subtle southern drawl to his American accent. "Thank you so much for having me here today. I've heard about English hospitality, and I've got to say, it goes beyond my expectations!"
"Talking about expectations, I believe there is something I ought to tell you..." He paused and blushed a little. "I believe... that the man you are expecting is now waiting for you in the driveway of this hotel."
Here, Dad switched right back into his Oxford accent, "Because I'm pulling your leg. I'm not the governor of Georgia; I'm just another British chap who couldn't pass up this fine opportunity to play a practical joke."

There was a great hush from the audience as they digested this new piece of information. Then one person started to clap, and the whole audience broke into a roar of laughter and applauded wildly.

After that an elderly gentleman came up to Dad and shook his hand. "Jolly good show, old chap. I say, won't you join me for a drink?" The voice was unmistakable.

It was Alec Guinness!

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