After 30 years apart, four longtime friends finally reunited at a party. Time had added gray to their hair and lines to their faces, but the warmth of old memories quickly erased the years. Laughter filled the room as they reminisced about school days, youthful dreams, and the paths life had taken them on.

Soon, as it often does, the conversation turned to their children—especially their sons and their achievements.

The first man straightened in his chair, pride shining in his eyes.
“My son worked his way up from the bottom and is now the president of his company,” he said. “To show his gratitude, he bought his best friend a brand-new Mercedes.”

The second friend smiled and raised an eyebrow. “That’s impressive. But my son became a partner in a major airline. For his best friend’s birthday, he surprised him with a private jet.”

Not to be outdone, the third leaned forward and declared, “My son is a millionaire engineer. He designed and built a 30,000-square-foot mansion—and then gave it to his best friend as a gift.”

They all nodded, suitably impressed with one another’s success stories.

Just then, the fourth friend returned from the restroom and rejoined the group. The others turned to him eagerly.
“So,” one of them asked, “what about your son?”

He took a sip of his drink and shrugged casually.
“Oh, my son’s gay,” he said, “and he works as a stripper.”

An awkward silence settled over the table. The other three exchanged glances, unsure how to respond, their proud smiles fading.

Then the fourth man broke into a grin and added,
“But he’s doing just fine. For his birthday, his three boyfriends bought him a mansion, a private jet, and a Mercedes.”