A man and his wife were deeply in love, always holding hands, on the couch, on the bed, in public and in private. They expressed their feelings through this simple action for many years, not disturbed by the odd looks others would give them when seeing them hold hands everywhere they go.
Many years pass and people grow used to the sight, some envious of the way they expressed their love in public. Then one day the man turns to his wife and with a red face and weak voice, said "I think I'm ready to try kissing now"
Okay, here’s my "Joke Poo" version:
Joke Poo: The Plunger’s Pride
In a bustling city plumbing workshop, there was a plumber, renowned for his unwavering dedication to a singular tool.
A plumber named Barry was deeply devoted to his trusty plunger, "Plungie." He used it constantly – clearing drains, unclogging toilets, even stirring his morning coffee (he swore it aerated it perfectly). He’d take Plungie everywhere – client meetings, the hardware store, even to the opera. He expressed his reliance through this single tool for many years, not disturbed by the horrified looks others would give him when seeing him plunging everything in his path.
Many years passed and people grew used to the sight of Barry’s bizarre behavior, some even coming to depend on him for his unique plunging style. Then one day, while staring intensely at a backed-up sewer drain, Barry turns to his assistant, a young apprentice with a look of deep contemplation on his face and with a red face and weak voice, said "I think…I think I’m ready to try a snake auger now."
Okay, let’s break down this joke and then see what comedic gold we can mine from it.
Analysis of the Original Joke:
- Core Concept: The humor lies in the extreme, protracted build-up and then the unexpected, delayed payoff. We’re led to believe we’re hearing a touching story about a loving couple, emphasized by the detail of constant hand-holding. The expectation is that they’re a sophisticated, deeply connected pair.
- Target Audience: Anyone who appreciates irony, anti-humor, or the subversion of romantic tropes.
- Humor Type: Irony, Understatement, Anti-climax. The gap between the established behavior (years of constant hand-holding) and the delayed "progression" to kissing is what makes it funny.
- Key Elements: Hand-holding (the established behavior), the long delay (years), the husband’s shyness/awkwardness ("red face, weak voice"), the implied assumption that kissing is a major relationship milestone they’ve somehow skipped.
Let’s Enrich the Humor!
Here’s a "Did You Know" style observation that plays off the joke’s premise:
"Did you know that while hand-holding might seem quaint, evolutionary biologists speculate it’s actually a crucial bonding mechanism rooted in our primate ancestry? Primates use grooming to establish social hierarchies and strengthen relationships. Holding hands could be seen as a simplified, human-friendly version of mutual grooming, a way to say, ‘Hey, I acknowledge your existence and I’m not going to pick fleas off you…yet. Maybe we can work up to kissing. Eventually. Years from now. Don’t pressure me.’"
Why this works:
- Connects to the Original: It uses the hand-holding detail from the joke as its launching point.
- Heightens the Absurdity: By applying evolutionary biology to explain hand-holding, it makes the contrast with the couple’s delayed kissing even more ridiculous.
- Adds a Layer of Satire: It subtly mocks the idea that hand-holding needs such a deep, scientific explanation, further undermining the couple’s supposed romantic sophistication.
- Extends the Joke’s Lifespan: Rather than just retelling the joke, it offers a new angle and allows the listener/reader to engage with the core concept in a fresh way.
- Offers a plausible reason for avoiding kissing: Grooming others can be awkward.
Another possible Joke Extension:
[Scene: The couple, 10 years after they started kissing. They are now quite elderly]
Wife: "Darling, you know… I was watching that new rom-com the other day. And it made me think…"
Husband: (Nervously) "Oh? Think what, my dear?"
Wife: "…Well, they were doing other things. A lot of other things, actually. A whole lot of things that followed the kissing. I was wondering if we were ready to… maybe… consider parallel play?"
Why it Works:
- Continues the Pattern: Reinforces the joke’s core structure of extreme delay and unexpected ‘progress.’
- Escalates the Absurdity: The move from kissing to "parallel play" (an activity toddlers engage in, playing separately but alongside each other) is a huge comedic leap.
- Uses Familiar Tropes: Parodies the overly-eager husband trope.
- Heightens the Implied Shyness: This couple is comically incapable of handling any level of intimacy past "holding hands."
These enrichments aim not just to repeat the joke’s premise, but to build upon it, adding new layers of humor and allowing the audience to explore the ridiculous scenario in a more engaging way.