在一个宁静的小镇上，住着一对老夫妇，他们有一个习惯，那就是每天下午都会去公园散步，这一天，老先生像往常一样拿着报纸，老夫人则提着一袋水果。
就在他们经过一棵大树时，一位年轻人匆匆跑来，他上气不接下气地说：“先生，太太，你们好！我有一个紧急的消息要告诉你们。”老夫妇好奇地看着他，老先生问：“年轻人，什么事这么紧急？”
年轻人喘了口气，说：“我刚刚在报纸上看到一个笑话，我觉得你们一定会喜欢。”老夫人笑着摇了摇头，说：“哦，那你就讲给我们听听吧。”
年轻人开始讲笑话：“有一天，一个美国人、一个英国人和一个法国人一起参加一个国际笑话大赛，比赛开始了，美国人讲了一个笑话，全场爆笑，接着是英国人，他讲了一个冷笑话，大家都不好意思笑，最后轮到法国人，他讲了一个笑话，全场掌声雷动。”
老夫妇听了，都觉得很有趣，老先生笑着说：“嗯，这个法国人的笑话确实不错。”年轻人接着说：“就在这时，评委突然宣布比赛结束，原来是因为一位评委心脏病发作，被紧急送往医院了，全场观众都惊讶不已，而那位法国人却笑着说：‘看来，我的笑话真的很有疗效。’”
老夫妇听了，都笑得前俯后仰，就在这时，老夫人突然想起一件事，她说：“哎呀，我忘记告诉你了，那个心脏病发作的评委就是我！”老夫妇愣住了，然后爆发出更响亮的笑声。
这个笑话在小镇上传开了，人们纷纷效仿，将这个误会与惊喜的故事讲给亲朋好友听，从此，这个小镇的气氛变得更加和谐，人们之间的关系也变得更加亲密。
下面是笑话的英文翻译：
Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived an elderly couple who had a habit of taking a walk in the park every afternoon. One day, the old man was carrying a newspaper, and the old lady was holding a bag of fruits.
As they passed by a large tree, a young man ran up to them out of breath and said, "Mr. and Mrs., how are you? I have an urgent message for you." The old couple looked curiously at him, and the old man asked, "Young man, what's so urgent?"
The young man took a breath and said, "Actually, I just read a joke in the newspaper, and I think you both will like it." The old lady laughed and shook her head, saying, "Oh, well, then you go ahead and tell us."
The young man began to tell the joke, "One day, an American, a British man, and a Frenchman participated in an international joke contest. The contest began, and the American told a joke that had everyone laughing. Then it was the British man's turn, and he told a dry joke that made everyone embarrassed to laugh. Finally, it was the Frenchman's turn, and he told a joke that received thunderous applause."
The old couple found the joke amusing, and the old man laughed and said, "Hmm, that Frenchman's joke was indeed good." The young man continued, "Just then, the judges announced the end of the contest, saying that one of the judges had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. The audience was astonished, and the Frenchman said with a smile, 'Seems like my joke really has a therapeutic effect.'"
The old couple laughed even harder. At this moment, the old lady suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, that judge who had a heart attack was me!" The old couple was taken aback and then erupted in even louder laughter.
This joke spread throughout the town, and people told the story of the misunderstanding and surprise to their friends and family. From then on, the atmosphere in the town became more harmonious, and the relationships between people grew closer.