A truck driver walks into a café on the Hume Highway with a full-grown emu right behind him. The waitress, trying not to stare, asks for his order. “I’ll have a hamburger, chips, and a coffee,” he says, then turns to the bird. “What about you?” “Sounds good to me,” the emu replies. The waitress returns with their meals, and when she gives the total — $10.50 — the truckie reaches into his pocket and hands her the exact change.
This routine continues for several days. Each time, the driver and his feathered friend order the same meal, and every time the man pulls out the exact amount needed, down to the last cent. Finally, curiosity gets the better of the waitress. “I have to ask,” she says one evening, “how do you always have the exact change?” The truckie smiles and leans forward as if sharing a secret. “Years ago, I found a magic lamp on the side of the road. When I rubbed it, a genie granted me two wishes.”
The waitress’s eyes widen. “Wow! What did you wish for?” He grins. “For my first wish, I asked that whenever I needed to pay for something, I’d always have the exact amount of money in my pocket.” The waitress nods, impressed. “That’s genius,” she says. “You’ll never be broke!” Then she asks, “And the second wish?”
The truckie chuckles and glances at the emu, who’s finishing her fries. “I wished for a tall bird with long legs who’d agree with everything I say.” The emu looks up and says, “Sounds good to me.” The café erupts in laughter.