Quasimodo was due to retire so they were trying out replacement bell ringers.
they final 3 applicants were called to the bell tower for a test..
"Ok, here's what you do, you push the bell hard to get it swinging, then you take a few steps back and run at it, hitting it with the top of your head to make it ring.. just like this.." which he duly demonstrated making a loud and glorious "dong!!".
the first guy stepped up, swung the bell and ran at it.
he hit it but with not much force, cutting his scalp and only succeding in making a dull "dunk!!" ..
"NEXT!"
the second guy stepped up, swung the bell and ran at it with much more gusto..
he managed to get a decent "ding!!" out of it but knocked himself unconscious..
"he's no good if he can only do one ding..NEXT!!"
the last guy realised that he'd have to try a lot harder so he gave the bella mighty push and ran at it with all his strength..
he stuck the bell producing a "DONG!!!" to rival the one Quasimodo had demonstrated.
unfortunately he had mistimed his run, striking the bell awkwardly and the backswing of the bell knocked him clear out of the bell tower, plunging him to the pavement far below.
a crowd gathered round the body, as they do.
one man asked if anybody knew the young man.
"no" came the reply, but one man said .......
.
.
.
.
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"but his face rings a bell".....
ok so that wasn't worth all that reading was it?