the barn door

Three teenagers hid themselves in a barn on the Sabbath in order to enjoy a smoke. They were discovered by their elders, who decided a beating was the proper punishment for the offense.

The first youth protested. "I deserve no punishment,” he said, “for I forgot that today is the Sabbath."

The second youth also admitted to a failure of memory. "And I forgot that smoking on the Sabbath is forbidden."

The third youth raised his voice and cried out: "I, too, forgot."

“What did you forget?" the disapproving elders asked.

The lad replied: "I forgot to lock the barn door."