Thursday, July 10, 2008

Knock, knock

Lucy discovered knock, knock jokes. I hate puns and think they're absolutely the lowest form of humor, but she loves knock, knock jokes and I love her so I listen to dozens of them a day. Here's the funny part though, she has no idea what they are. I told her the classic one first:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Well, she thought that was the height of hilarity, so the next morning she excitedly told me she had a knock, knock joke for me. Here's how it went:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Banana
Banana who?
Banana you glad I didn't say grapes?

I thought that was so funny on so many levels so I burst into laughter. I have created a monster. Now throughout the day, she'll say, "Can I tell you a knock, knock joke, Mom?" "Yeah, hit me with it!" I'll say, and I'll hear something like:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Toothbrush.
Toothbrush who?
Toothbrush you glad I didn't say horse rover?

The whole concept that she absolutely doesn't get it is funny, until the 4th or 5th or 32nd knock, knock joke that makes no sense. And she's very hurt if I don't laugh. She tries them out on her dad who almost never laughs at them because maybe he's teaching her that real life just isn't fair.

This morning she asked me, "Mom, will you get me a knock, knock joke book sometime?" so maybe that will help. I think I'll miss these very random ones though, and then I really will have to start listening to and laughing at puns. Hey, at least she isn't telling dead baby or cross-the-road jokes, so I can count my blessings on that one.

Update: I went into the living room just now and said:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Lucy
Lucy who?
Lucy lastic lets your pants fall down!

She did not laugh AT ALL. Then she said this:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Alice
Alice who?
Alice you glad I didn't say banana?

Then I said:
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Marsh.
Marsh who?
Marshmallow!

She looked at me gravely and said, "Mom, that's not really funny. If you said, 'Marsh I didn't say banana,' then it would be."

HELP!!!!!

7 comments:

Ann-Marie said...

What is a dead baby joke? Do I want to know? :-)

Alice said...

Ooh, no you don't. They're gross. I'm sorry I've ever even heard any. Maybe it's a 70s/80s thing?

Juliet said...

I remember telling those "Knock,Knock" jokes but can't remember one of them right now....sad, sad. My sister, Linda who is sitting near couldn't either. But I do remember the laughter that came with telling them.

Alysa said...

Try this one - Maddie's personal favorite these days. "Knock, knock. Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Oh, don't cry now, it's not that sad!" (or some variation on the last sentence ... did they go to some secret knock-knock camp this spring and they didn't tell us about it?????)

Jill said...

Here's one for you...
Knock Knock
Whose There?
Horse Horse
Horse Horse Who?
Why is your horse hoarse?

See...they get worse. Mary loves the "boo - who?" one also. I think that is her favorite. Unfortunately knock knock jokes are a phase that we all have to suffer through as parents...they do grow out of it...Mary is pretty much over it..but she's almost 8..so you may be stuck in knock-knock world for a little while :) I'll be praying for you!!! :)

Ann-Marie said...

Oh dear...it IS getting worse. I can see the book title now - Lucy and the Mystery of the Knock Knock Joke!

Mae said...

I do love how your sweet Lucy thinks. Thanks for making me laugh with your blog. I needed it.