When Jack bowed to someone, he always did it at lightning speed. His nod was so quick that people felt he had no manners. Some well-meaning friends advised him, "Next time you bow, count slowly from 'January' to 'December' in your mind before straightening up. That will make the gesture proper."
The next day, Jack met his uncle and followed this advice. His bow was so prolonged that his uncle, surprised, quickly walked away. When Jack finally looked up, his uncle was gone. He then asked a passerby, "Which month did he leave?"