The Joke

Rachael is a funny, funny creature. Her world, her imagination, is something to be marveled at, envied even. She makes me laugh by just being her.

Feeding the chickens. Or so she tells me.

Those who know me "in real life" know I come from a long line of witty, funny people. I'm not quite the same caliber as my father and brothers, but I can see in Rachael that same sort of wit and desire to entertain. 



So I decided it was time to start grooming her. To tell jokes. 


Now, I've never tried teaching a three-year-old how to tell jokes before. Humour has been something that has eluded Abby until fairly recently, and even then she tends to gravitate to the very visual, slap-stick physical humour. Rachael, on the other hand, already enjoys word-play and has a very verbose aspect to her personality. How hard could it be? I thought to myself. 


I decided to start with the classic knock-knock joke. 



Me: Knock, Knock. 


Rachael: deadpan look, no other response forthcoming


Me: Rachael, Mommy says "Knock, knock", then you say...?


Rachael: continues to stare at me


Me: Then Rachael says, "Who's there?" Okay? Let's try again.... Knock, knock!


Rachael: still nothing


Me: "Who's there?"


Rachael: It's Daddy! (giggles)


Okay, so maybe not your traditional knock-knock joke, but she thought it was funny. 


Moving on... 



I decided to try the infamous Chicken Crossing the Road joke. 


Me: Rachael, why did the chicken cross the road? 


Rachael: sound of crickets in the background


Me: To get to the other side! 


Rachael: Was his family there? 


Me: What? 


Rachael: Was his family there? And the goat. It should be there too. [Insert three-year-old chatter about a family of chickens that have a pet goat.] And a car. 


Me: A car? 


Rachael: Yes, a car. They need to drive down the road to get home!


.......


I think I will try getting a book of kids jokes from the library.