President Bush was representing the United...

President Bush was representing the United States of America on a highly
formal, orchestrated state visit to England.


Air Force One stops at a bright red carpet along which the President
strides to join Queen Elizabeth II in a beautiful, ornate 17th-century
coach hitched to 6 enormous matched white horses.


The coach proceeds through the streets of London en route to Buckingham
Palace, the Queen and the President waving to the cheering throngs.


Then suddenly the right rear horse produces a thunderous, cataclysmic fart
that reverberates through the air and rattles the doors of the coach.


Uncomfortable, the reaction of the two powerful figures is to focus their
attentions elsewhere and behave as if nothing extraordinary had happened.


But, the Queen is the first to realize that ignoring what had just happened
is ridiculous. She explains, "Mr. President, please accept my regrets ---
I'm sure you understand that there are some things that even a Queen cannot
control."


President Bush replies, "Your Majesty, please don't give the matter another
thought --- you know, if you hadn't said something, I would have thought it
was one of the horses."