[SOC] Answer to unasked question

[Bill Cunningham]

>
> Have you ever wondered where the phrase "You gotta be shittin' me" came
> from?
>
> Well, it just so happens to have originated through the Father of our [US]
> Country.  Way back, George Washington was crossing the Delaware River with
> his troops.  There were 33 in Washington's boat.  It was extremely dark
and
> storming furiously and the water was tossing them about.
>
> Finally, Washington grabbed Corporal Peters and stationed him at the front
> of the boat with a lantern.  He ordered him to keep swinging it so they
> could see where they were heading.  Corporal Peters, through the driving
> rain and cold, continued swinging the lantern back and forth, back and
> forth.  Then a big gust of wind and wave hit and threw Corporal Peters and
> his
> lantern into the Delaware.
>
> Washington and his troops searched nearly an hour trying to find Corporal
> Peters but to no avail.  All of them felt terrible,
> for the corporal had been one of their favorites.
>
> Sometime later Washington and his troops landed on the other side, wet and
> totally exhausted.  He rallied the troops and told them they must go on.
> Another hour later, one of his men said, "General, I see lights ahead."
> They trudged towards the lights and came upon a huge house. What they
didn't
> know was that this was a house of ill repute hidden in the forest to
> serve all who came.  General Washington pounded on the door, his men
> crowding around him.
>
> The door swung open and much to his surprise stood a beautiful woman.  A
> huge smile came across her face to see so many men standing there.
> Washington was the first to speak, "Madam, I'm General George Washington
and
> these are my men.  We're tired, wet, exhausted and desperately need warmth
> and comfort.
>
> Again the Madam looked at all the men standing there and with a broad
smile
> on her face said, 'Well, General, You have come to the right place. We can
> surely give you warmth and comfort. How many men do you have?"
>
> Washington replied, "Well, madam, there are thirty-two of us without
> Peters."
>
> And the Madam said, "You gotta be shittin' me!"