[Today’s contributions come from a gaggle of gorillas, including SB Bill, SB Dave, and SB Ross. SB SM]
A teenage boy is getting ready to take his girlfriend to the prom. First he goes to rent a tux, but there’s a long tux line at the shop and it takes forever.
Next, he has to get some flowers, so he heads over to the florist and there’s a huge flower line there. He waits forever but eventually gets the flowers.
Then he heads out to rent a limo. Unfortunately, there’s a large limo line at the rental office, but he’s patient and gets the job done.
Finally, the day of the prom comes. The two are dancing happily and his girlfriend is having a great time.
When the song is over, she asks him to get her some punch, so he heads over to the punch table and there’s no punchline.
These are from yesterday’s Anu Garg’s Wordsmith email:
From: Margaret Mitchell
Subject: No Affix
Some thirty years ago our daughter Tina phoned to ask for help to mantle a bike trailer she had bought for her two little ones. When questioned, she said if you can dismantle something to take it apart, surely you can mantle it.
Margaret Mitchell, Kamloops, Canada
From: Sandra J. Kisner
Subject: A poem
And then there’s the poem by David McCord (1897-1997):
Gloss
I know a little man both ept and ert.
An intro-? extro-? No, he’s just a vert.
Sheveled and couth and kempt, pecunious, ane,
His image trudes upon the ceptive brain.
When life turns sipid and the mind is traught,
The spirit soars as I would sist it ought.
Chalantly then, like any gainly goof,
My digent self is sertive, choate, loof.
Sandra Kisner, Ithaca, New York
From: Jerry Campbell
Subject: Interesting poem on this week’s theme
A very Descript Man
I am such a dolent man,
I eptly work each day;
My acts are all becilic,
I’ve just ane things to say.
My nerves are strung, my hair is kempt,
I’m gusting and I’m span:
I look with dain on everyone
And am a pudent man.
I travel cognito and make
A delible impression:
I overcome a slight chalance,
With gruntled self-possession.
My dignation would be great
If I should digent be:
I trust my vagance will bring
An astrous life for me.
-J.H. Parker
Jerry Campbell, Albany, California
From: Kevin Parker
Subject: Back-formation short story
No discussion of words like “gruntled” should go without a link to The New Yorker short story that makes a buffet of them:
“It had been a rough day, so when I walked into the party I was very chalant, despite my efforts to appear gruntled and consolate …” more
Kevin W. Parker, Greenbelt, Maryland
From: Sandy D Amato
Subject: Dems in Array
I just saw a headline that goes with this week’s theme: “Dems in Array”.
Saundra D’Amato, Memphis, Tennessee
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