A lady walks into the welfare office, trailed by 15 kids...
"WOW," the social worker exclaims, "Are they all yours???"
"Yeah, dey's all mine," the tired momma sighs, having heard that question a thousand times before.
"Well," says the social worker, "then you must be here to sign up. I'll need all their names."
"Dis one is me oldest -- he's Leroy," the mama said.
"OK, and who's next?" said the worker.
"Well, dis one's Leroy, too." The social worker raises an eyebrow, but continues. One by one, through the oldest four, all boys, all named Leroy.
Then she is introduced to the eldest girl, also named Leroy!
"All right...I'm seeing a pattern here. Are they all named Leroy?"
"Well, yeah, it's easier fo me. When it time for supper, me just yells Leroy!' and dey all come a runnin. And if me needs ta stop de kid who's running
into the street, me just yells 'Leroy' and de kid, whoever he is, stops in his tracks. It's de smartiest idea me ever ever had, namin' dem all Leroy."
The social worker thinks this over for a bit, then wrinkles her forehead and says tentatively, "But what if you just want one kid to come, and not the
whole bunch?"
"Ah, dat's easy," said the mama.
"Den I calls dem by dere last names."
Jerry Winter
