Stuck with it

There's this really funny joke circulating amongst the first grade crowd at my son's school. It's so funny they all know it and try to trick each other with it whenever they can. Especially right after someone else just did it to them. Because no one would ever suspect the joke coming two times in a row. Or three times. Or 12.

The only problem is, it's really not that funny. Not even the first time.

Say what?

(you) What?

(child, laughing and pointing) Hah! You're stuck with it!

(you... now slightly confused. Unless you've already heard this joke two or three or 12 times) Huh?

(child... gleeful with delight) You said the word. Now you're stuck with it.

Give me a moment while I catch my breath from laughing so hard.

Phew! Such a funny, clever joke!

Whomever is stuck with the word now must get someone else to say ____ (You didn't think I was going to say the word, did you? I don't want to be stuck with it.) Because if you're stuck with a word, you're stuck with it until you get someone else to say _____

AJ has tried to pull this joke on me more times than I can count in the last week. And I've heard his friends, hockey teammates and hockey teammates' siblings all trying to play the same trick on him or others.

I tried to relate, suggesting, "So it's kind of like when two people say the same thing at the same time and you yell 'jinx!' And then you can't talk until someone says your name?"

Blank stare from AJ.

I guess not.

Last night, while snuggling at bedtime, I asked him if "what" is the only word you can use to catch people.

Turns out "what" is the easy one. If you really want to get someone good, and be super funny, you have to trick them into saying "bird".

"Why that word?" I asked.

By now he was bouncing on the bed with excitement. (I probably should have, too, since I was being let in on such a cool secret.) "Because bird is the word!"

Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

When you're surrounded by six and seven year olds, it's tough having a 40+ year old sense of humor.

I guess I'm stuck with it.