Driving the unfamiliar mountain roads, they became concerned as it grew darker and they saw light snow starting.
Thinking maybe they were close to the resort, they looked for a store or gas station where they could ask directions. Finding no other place, they saw a farmhouse with the lights on and pulled into the driveway.
A lady answered the door and she told them the roads were too treacherous for those unfamiliar with the area. They asked if they could rent a room or a couch and stay there overnight. The lady explained that she is a recent widow, and the neighbors know her too well. Seeing an extra vehicle at her house overnight would be a very bad idea.
Still though she was concerned for their well-being and proposed they pull their car into the horse barn and sleep there until dawn.
She said her husband had gotten rid of the horses before his death so the barn was quiet and there was a sink and toilet they could use.
She also offered to bring them towels, blankets, and some food.
The buddies accepted this offer knowing it was getting dark fast and they had no other options.
At dawn they awoke and she delivered some breakfast and hot coffee for the road.
About nine months later they were having drinks and buddy 1 moved the conversation back to their ski trip. Buddy 2 talked about the great time they had and how they should do it again.
Buddy 1 asks his friend, "that night, while we slept in the barn, did you happen to sneak out of the car and into the widow's house while I slept?"
Buddy 2, a bit sheepishly says, "yes."
Buddy 1 asks, "and did you and the widow have fun?"
Buddy 2, really concerned now answers, "yes."
Buddy 1 continues and asks, "and did you happen to use my name?"
Buddy 2, really nervous at this point responds, "well, er, I may have, why?"
Buddy 1, "well I just got a letter from her attorney and apparently she had the greatest night ever and when she died, she left her entire estate to me."
Joke Poo: The Inheritance of the Iguana
Two IT guys, Mark and Dave, were invited to a Comic-Con after-party at a remote desert estate, but they got off to a ridiculously late start, engrossed in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Driving the unfamiliar, winding desert roads, they became concerned as the GPS signal started dropping and sand began blowing across the road.
Thinking they were close to the estate, they looked for any sign of civilization. Finding nothing but cacti and the occasional tumbleweed, they spotted a bizarre geodesic dome with flashing neon lights and pulled into the long, gated driveway.
A woman wearing a full silver lamé jumpsuit answered the door and told them the sandstorms made the roads too unpredictable for newcomers. They asked if they could rent a room or even just crash on a beanbag. The woman explained that she was a performance artist, and her reputation was…unique. Seeing random cars parked on her property overnight could lead to unfortunate rumors spreading across social media.
Still, she was concerned for their well-being and proposed they pull their Prius into her climate-controlled iguana enclosure and sleep there until dawn. She explained that the iguanas were currently in hibernation for a performance art piece about the Anthropocene and wouldn’t bother them. Plus, there was a filtered water dispenser and a composting toilet they could use. She also offered them aromatherapy eye masks, vegan protein bars, and some ambient whale song recordings. The IT guys, grateful for any option, accepted.
At dawn, they awoke to the faint smell of reptile bedding and the gentle hum of the dome’s filtration system. The woman delivered some pressed kale juice and a lecture on the socio-political implications of “Jurassic Park” for their road trip.
About nine months later, Mark and Dave were troubleshooting a particularly nasty server error when Mark steered the conversation back to the Comic-Con party. Dave reminisced about the weirdness they’d experienced and how they should totally go again next year.
Mark asks his friend, “That night, while we slept in the iguana enclosure, did you happen to sneak out of the car and into the lamé-clad performance artist’s dome while I slept?”
Dave, looking a bit green, says, “Yes…”
Mark asks, “And did you and the performance artist engage in…performance art?”
Dave, sweating now, answers, “Yes… it was… interpretive.”
Mark continues and asks, “And did you happen to use my name when discussing your shared artistic vision?”
Dave, visibly panicked, responds, “Well, maybe? Why?”
Mark replies, “Well, I just got a package from her. Apparently, she became convinced that my spirit animal was destined to inherit… all her hibernating iguanas.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then see if we can add some comedic seasoning.
Joke Dissection:
- Premise: Two friends are stranded near a recent widow’s farmhouse during a ski trip. They end up sleeping in her barn.
- Twist/Payoff: One friend sneaks into the widow’s house and has a liaison, using his friend’s name. Nine months later, the first friend inherits the widow’s estate due to being mistakenly identified as the lover.
- Humor Source: The humor relies on a combination of deception, mistaken identity, unexpected inheritance, and the friend’s opportunistic behavior contrasted with the other’s unintended benefit. The delayed revelation (nine months later) adds to the surprise. The widow’s “greatest night ever” is also a key element of the surprise and comedy.
- Key Elements:
- Widow: Recent loss, social concerns, vulnerability.
- Barn: Rustic, uncomfortable, unexpected accommodation.
- Mistaken Identity: The core of the comedic misunderstanding.
- Ski Trip: A somewhat incongruous detail adding to the absurdity.
- Inheritance: The surprising and undeserved reward.
Comedic Enrichment & A New Joke:
Let’s focus on the “barn” element, combined with the inheritance. Barns are typically associated with farming, animals, and… manure. Let’s play on that.
Did you know?
- The world record for largest collection of manure belongs to a dairy farmer in Wisconsin, who has 1.2 million gallons. That is a LOT of fertilizer!
New Joke:
Two friends, Mark and David, found themselves in a similar predicament to the original joke, stuck near a farmhouse during a snowstorm. The widow, sensing their desperation, offered them shelter in her barn. The next morning, Mark asks David, “Did you happen to sneak into the widow’s house last night? If so, I hope you washed your hands – I just received an inheritance that’s literally manure! Turns out she was a world-renowned mycologist specializing in rare fungi, and her will specified her fortune would be given to whomever fertilized her most prized mushroom patch with the richest compost! Her lawyer said I won the ‘golden shovel’ award.”