zen.org Communal Weblog

During lunch, three year-old Patrick posed a new question. “Want to hear a joke, Dad?”

“Sure!”

“Okay,” he said with obvious build-up, “why does a bee like to go into a drink?” His eyes glittered with anticipation.

“Umm, because they’re thirsty?”

“No!” he announced. “Because it turns green!!” A grin and giggling followed the punch line.

I didn’t get it, and if pressed (why you’d do this I don’t know) he probably didn’t either. But that doesn’t matter—his brain has recently processed the proper telling of a joke. Synapses continue to fire up there in a display as spectacular as fireworks over Boston on the Fourth of July.