John took his position as an observer and made himself comfortable on a large black armchair.  All he had to do was to keep a straight face and nothing more.  The lights slowly dipped  and the two clowns, who were on either side of John,  began their “jokes session” otherwise known as John’s first task at Level 1.  A spotlight focused on a large plasma screen on the wall which  displayed a close up of John’s face and every reaction on it was being monitored on a radar signal below it.  If there was a slight jerk upwards then that meant John had found the joke funny and he would lose and if it went down, that meant John was making himself depressed which would add as points.

    “So, let us begin.”  Said the first clown to the second, who nodded.  “What did the customer at the restaurant say to the waiter when he found a dirty stain on his soup bowl?”  The second clown thought for a moment then replied,  “Er, please give me another clean one?”

     “Incorrect.  His reply was , that his dish was too clean and so he demanded a dirtier one.”  The second clown burst out laughing.  At this stage, the jokes were not that funny, as it was level 1 but they were testing John’s brain patterns and trying to excite him.  The line on the radar was still straight. 

     “Now it is my turn.”  Said the second clown.  Alright; what do you get if you mow your garden in the rain?”  The first clown thought hard and then replied.

     “An electric shock?”

     “Incorrect; you get a very badly cut lawn.  Hah hah hah hah hah!  Hah hah ha ha ha!”  Both the clowns laughed out aloud and stared at John who was still straight-faced.  Suddenly there was a bleep and the graph went down, after which, both the clowns began to sob and faded into the air.  A voice boomed out.

     “Congratulations, John Werewoods.  You are indeed a very smart man; and now you will go next door to perform Level 2.”  John sighed and got up and made his way to the next room, pleased with himself but very straight-faced.

     End of Chapter 6.