Where do I apply for a fishing job?

Has anyone heard of a story where a boy is fishing, catches a huge fish that offers it 3 wishes if he lets him go?? My husband told this story which if he just made it up as he went, he did a great job.

• Answer:

  It comes from a Russian tale by Pushkin, but it's been used as a template for hundreds of other jokes. Here's my version: A fishing Pole caught the fabled golden fish in the River Vistula. The fish says "Please, kind sir, throw me back and I will grant you three wishes." The Polack (that's the Polish word for "Pole", no offense intended) said "I'd like the Chinese to come visit us in Poland." "All of them?" the incredulous fish asked. "All of them," he replied. "All right, but can't you make your second wish a little more reasonable?" "Actually, no," the Polack said. "I'd like the Chinese to come visit us again." The fish just exploded. "Again with the Chinese! Always with the Chinese! What's this with the Chinese?!?" The Polack said "Does that mean I don't get my third wish?" The fish said "I guess I have to, but for crying out loud....!" The Polack said "Then I want the Chinese to come visit us in Poland." The fish just stood on its tail in amazement. "Why do you like the Chinese so much?" he asked. "Actually, I don't," the Polack said. "I'd just like to see what Russia looks like after a billion and a half Chinese march through it six times."