2 Jokers

My evening here at the secret cave was a big improvement over this morning. I never did get a nap in, and Sister came home with a dour expression after a hard day at school. But Sister and I worked on, of all things, cleaning up her desk in her room and this seemed to relax us both. She had a stack of drawings and stories she'd written, plus some overdue library books and a past-due homework assignment in there, and we actually had quite a nice time looking through all her projects and organizing them.

The best thing of all, though, was the exchange of jokes between Husband and Sister at the dinner table tonight:

Husband: Okay, Sister, where do otters come from?
Sister: (her mouth hanging open in a goofy half-smile) I dunno.
Husband: Otter space!

Sister laughed at this, repeating "Otter space! Otter space!" to herself a few times, but then got a sly look on her face.

Sister: Okay, I have one. What did the shore say to the ocean?
Husband: I dunno.
Sister: Nothing. It just waved!
Husband: Ha! Okay, here's one. What did the mama buffalo say to her little boy buffalo when she dropped him off at school?
Sister: I dunno.
Husband: "Bye, son!" Get it? Bi-son?
Sister: Ohhhhhhh, 'cause bison is a herd of buffalo! Ha ha! Okay, what did Tarzan say when he saw a herd of elephants coming up over the hill?
Husband: I dunno.
Sister: He said, "Hey look, there's a herd of elephants coming up over the hill!" (Pause for much eye rolling from Husband.) But what did he say when he saw a herd of elephants coming up over the hill with sunglasses on?
Husband: I dunno.
Sister: Nothing. He didn't recognize them!
Husband: That sounds like one of your mom's jokes. (It was. My favorite one when I was a kid as a matter of fact.)
Husband: So, Sister, what's big and grey and wears glass slippers?
Sister: Huh? I dunno.
Husband: Cinderellaphant!
Sister: Ha! That's a good one. Tell another one.
Husband: (dramatic pause) Okay, but you have to promise not to tell this one at school.
Me: Uh-oh.
Sister: (looking ecstatic and very sneaky) I won't tell! I promise!
Me: I SO do not trust her! Look at that smirk!
Sister: (trying to surpress laughter and look sincere) No, rilly! I won't tell it at school!
Husband: You PROMISE you won't tell it when school's happening? You can tell it, but just not during school, okay?
Sister: Okay! Okay!
Me: (grumble grumble)
Husband: Okay, here goes. What did the fish say when his head hit a cement wall?
Sister: (eyes shining) I dunno.
Husband: Dam!

Sister was pleased as punch to have been told a risque joke, especially knowing that there are MANY opportunities for her to share that joke with her friends on the sly. Like at her Brownie troop's overnight camp-out trip this weekend, for example. I was just grateful that Husband was able to pull her out of her funk in his deft way. I feel like I hadn't been able to touch her this week. God love that man.

And sadly, my man is leaving town tomorrow morning for 4 days on the first in a series of trips to Atlanta to deal with his dad's house and belongings and lawyers and...well, all the rest of it, too. I'll be unable to blog for the next few days sans computer, I'm sorry to say, but I promise to get caught up on everyone else's blogs when he returns bearing the laptop again. Truthfully, it's probably a good thing he's taking it with him. I've got a bed quilt to start for Sister, plus a rag rug for her room, Girl Scout cookie orders to organize for a troop of 14 girls, friends to catch up with, Crate and Barrel to visit,.... I'll be keeping myself plenty busy.

Hope you all have lovely, productive, relaxing weekends!