The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PINK-POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE

THE BOY REACHED HIS 6TH BIRTHDAY AND HIS FATHER WAS SO
HAPPY THAT HE WOULD NOW BE OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO SCHOOL,
THAT AT THE PARTY HE SAID, "SON, THIS IS A BIG YEAR
FOR YOU. YOU WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND I
WANT YOU TO DO WELL. AS AN INCENTIVE TO DO WELL IN
SCHOOL, I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT FOR
YOUR BIRTHDAY. YOU NAME IT, IT'S YOURS." "DAD,
I'D LIKE A PINK POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE FOR MY
BIRTHDAY." THE FATHER IS ASTOUNDED AND ASKS WHY,
THE SON REFUSES TO TELL AND SAYS HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER
GIFT. THE FATHER GIVES HIM NOTHING. THIS OCCURS AT
EVERY BIG OCCASION IN THE SON'S LIFE, AND IT'S ALWAYS
THE SAME; THE FATHER SAYS HE WILL GIVE IT TO HIM IF THE
BOY WILL ONLY TELL HIM WHY HE WANTS IT, BUT THE SON
ALWAYS REFUSES TO TELL. FINALLY, ON THE SON'S
DEATH-BED HE SAYS, "DAD, THE REASON I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED A PINK POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE IS BECAUSE
--UGH--." AND HE DIED.

Submitter comment: BILL DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE FIRST HEARD IT.

Where learned: SCHOOL

Date learned: 00-00-1958