The Joke

Josiah and I went on a date this morning. Jesse and I have had a few dates in recent months, and Josiah was feeling a wee bit jealous. So, out we went—just the two of us—to Lyndon Diner for a special breakfast. He got to choose several items off the menu, and I let him lead the conversation (no heavy talks or "heart to hearts" required). 

We both had a great time chatting away with one another, and then we moved on to some restaurant-friendly activities. First he suggested that we play I-Spy for a while (always a favorite). After ten minutes of that, we moved on to telling jokes. He's definitely into jokes right now, catching the dual meanings that are usually at play, but he also still says a lot of goofy, doesn't-make-sense stuff too. I should note that the developmental psychologist in me just loves observing his evolving understanding of language!  Anyway, we were tossing around knock-knock jokes, and once we'd exhausted the real ones he began throwing in whatever words came to mind. Characteristically, these were very goofy and based on objects he could see around us.

For instance --

Josiah: "Knock knock."  

Me: "Who's there?" 

Josiah: "Um, plate." 

Me: "Plate who?" 

Josiah: "Plate crazy on Mommy's head!" 

(and so on).

Well, when he landed on "ketchup," he didn't realize initially what a winner he had on his hands (although I fear it says something about the level I've mentally stooped to, living with three males, that my ears even heard it). I had a split-second Mommy-decision to make, knowing that cuing him into the joke might be a decision I'd regret for weeks. I went for it of course. "Ketchup who?" I repeated back to him again with rising intonation, a sidelong glance, and a small smirk. 

He's a quick one, that kid. He paused for a beat, looked at me, repeated the phrase to himself with a hint of a query in his voice...and then exploded! The child was helpless with laughter for the next 10 minutes. Five-year-old boy humor at its best...knock-knock joke + gross potty activity implied + he came up with it. The entire diner clientele and staff must have thought we were insane. We both laughed for ages, me mostly at him. Josiah was so undone with humor that he nearly fell out of his seat a few times. Needless to say the joke was repeated at least 100 times (I do not exaggerate) in the following half hour, and I have a feeling that the phrase "ketchup who" will continue to figure heavily in our lives for the foreseeable future... 

You know, it still baffles me at times that God saw fit to bless me with two sons and no daughters.