After 25 years of marriage, Robert thought he knew exactly how to get his wife’s attention.

One evening, while finishing a long shift at work, he picked up his phone and sent Linda a message.

“Hi, honey! I’m going to be late tonight. Could you please wash my dirty clothes and prepare my favorite dinner before I get home?”

He waited.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Still no reply.

Robert frowned at his phone. Linda usually answered his messages quickly, so he began wondering whether she had even seen it.

Then he had an idea.

With a mischievous smile, he typed another message.

“Oh, and I almost forgot! My boss just gave me a big raise. I’m going to surprise you with a brand-new car!”

This time, his phone buzzed almost immediately.

“OMG! REALLY?!” Linda replied.

Robert burst out laughing.

He quickly typed, “No, sweetheart. I just wanted to make sure you received my first message!”

But what Linda sent back seconds later made him realize he wasn’t the only clever person in their marriage.

Robert had always enjoyed teasing his wife, especially after a long day at work. He believed a little humor helped keep their marriage interesting, even after 25 years together. When Linda failed to respond to his first message about laundry and dinner, he decided to test whether she was paying attention. His second message, promising a salary increase and a brand-new car, produced an immediate response. Feeling rather pleased with himself, he admitted that the exciting news was only a trick to confirm she had received his original request. He leaned back in his chair, chuckling at what he considered a perfectly executed joke.

But Linda had a sense of humor of her own. After reading his confession, she waited a few moments before sending another message. “That’s funny, darling. Because I was just about to tell you that your favorite dinner is ready, all your clothes are washed, and I’ve invited your mother to stay with us for the next three weeks.” Robert stared at the screen. His mother was a lovely woman, but she had a habit of reorganizing the kitchen, criticizing his television habits, and reminding him to eat more vegetables. Three weeks sounded like a very long visit. He immediately called Linda, but she didn’t answer.

A moment later, another message appeared. “And since you’re getting such a wonderful raise, I’m sure you won’t mind taking your mother shopping every afternoon!” Robert nearly dropped his phone. He began typing a long explanation, apologizing for his little trick and promising to bring dinner home instead. Before he could finish, Linda sent one final message. “Relax, sweetheart. Your mother isn’t coming. I just wanted to make sure you were reading MY messages!” Robert laughed so loudly that his coworker looked over from the next desk. For once, his wife had beaten him at his own game, and he had to admit that she deserved the victory.

When Robert finally arrived home, he found Linda relaxing on the sofa with a cup of tea. The laundry was still waiting, and dinner hadn’t been started. Instead of complaining, he walked into the kitchen, prepared two sandwiches, and brought one to his wife. “I suppose I deserved that,” he said with a grin. Linda smiled and reminded him that marriage worked best when both people helped each other rather than expecting one person to do everything. Robert agreed, and they spent the evening laughing about their ridiculous exchange. The next morning, he sent her another message: “Good morning, beautiful. What can I do to make your day easier?” Linda answered immediately: “Now THAT is a message worth replying to!”

Who won this little texting battle?

A — The husband was clever!

B — The wife was even smarter!

C — They’re both hilarious!

Would you have fallen for the husband’s trick? Tell us in the comments!