A man walks into a bar, takes a seat, and asks the bartender for three shots of gin. The bartender gets one shot of gin and sets it in front of the gentleman.

"I'll take all three right now, if you don't mind," says the man. He puts $20 on the bar.

The bartender puts down two more shots of gin and picks up the $20. He watches from the far end of the bar as the man slowly sips the three shots of gin, one after another, pondering and lost in thought while he drank. After the third shot he thanks the bartender and leaves.

A week later the man comes back. The bartender remembers the man because of his odd drink order, and says, "Three shots of gin, if I recall correctly?" as he sets three shots of gin in front of the man.

The man places a $20 on the bar, slowly sips the three shots of gin, and leaves.

A week later the man comes back once more. The bartender places three shots of gin on the bar, the man pays with a $20 and slowly sips and ponders. Just as the man was leaving, the bartender says, "I know it''s none of my business, and if you don't want to talk about if that's okay, but I couldn't help but notice your unusual drinking routine. What's it all about?"

The man says, "Well, the first shot is for my brother. He lives in Paris, and I don't see him frequently. So when I drink the first shot I think about him. The second shot is for me, and the third shot is for my other brother who lives in London and whom I seldom see in person. We're very close, and my two brothers do the same thing when they drink."

"That's really touching," says the bartender. "Thanks for sharing your story."

This goes on for about a year until one day the man walks in and before the bartender could finish pouring the second shot he says, "Just two shots today." He appears a bit sad and melancholy.

The bartender sets two shots of gin on the bar. The man pays $15, slowly sips the two shots, and is about to leave when the bartender says, "I know it's none of my business, but I know why you usually drink three shots of gin and today you only had two. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to one of your brothers."

"Oh, my brothers are fine," replies the man. "I just quit drinking."