Benny the reporter checks in at some old hotel smack in middle of nowhere after hours of driving. Coming into the lobby, he is confronted with the strange sight of an old Indian, whittling stick,

 Benny, the reporter, checks in at an old hotel smack in the middle of nowhere after hours of driving. As he walks into the dimly lit lobby, he notices a strange sight—an old Native American man sitting in a rocking chair, quietly whittling a stick.

Curious, Benny approaches the front desk and asks the receptionist, “Hey, what’s the deal with the old guy?”

The receptionist leans in and whispers, “Oh, that’s Old Joe. He’s been sitting there for as long as anyone can remember. Folks say he’s the wisest man in these parts—he knows everything!”

Benny raises an eyebrow and chuckles. “Everything? Come on, nobody knows everything.”

The receptionist shrugs. “Go ahead, test him.”

Intrigued, Benny walks up to Old Joe. “So, they say you know everything. Mind if I ask you a question?”

Old Joe nods, never stopping his whittling. “Go ahead.”

Benny: “Alright… what’s the meaning of life?”

Old Joe pauses for a second, then says, “Life is like a river. It flows where it must, bends when it must, and never stops moving forward.”

Benny nods, impressed. “Wow… that’s deep.”

But he’s a reporter—he wants proof that Old Joe is truly as wise as they say. So he decides to ask a tougher question.

Benny: “Alright then, how many stars are in the sky?”

Old Joe barely looks up. “All of them.”

Benny blinks. “Okay, smart guy… what did I have for breakfast this morning?”

Without missing a beat, Old Joe replies, “Judging by your breath? Garlic and regret.”

The entire lobby bursts into laughter as Benny stands there, speechless.

Moral of the story? Never doubt an old man with a whittling stick and definitely bring breath mints on a road trip.