The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PRACTICAL JOKE

THIS JOKE CONSISTS OF BOTH SPEECH AND GESTURES. THE
SPEECH IS FORMULARIZED AND THE GESTURES PLAY A VERY
IMPORTANT PART FOR THE EFFECT OF THIS GAME. TWO
PEOPLE PLAY THE JOKE--ACTUALLY ONE PERSON PLAYS THE
JOKE ON A NAIVE PLAYER.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE SHALL TAKE OUT THE BRAIN. (SAID IN A
"MATTER-OF-FACT" TONE). FIRST, MAKE AN INCISION DOWN
THE MIDDLE OF THE HEAD. (AS THE PERSON SAYS THIS, HE DRAWS
A LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE OTHER PERSON'S HEAD WITH
HIS FINGER). THEN ONE ACROSS THE FRONT. (DRAWS A LINE
ACROSS THE FOREHEAD WITH HIS FINGER). ONE ACROSS THE
BACK. (DRAWS A LINE ACROSS THE BACK OF THE HEAD.)
THEN WE PULL THE SKIN APART. (USING BOTH HANDS, HE
SMOOTHS DOWN THE PARTICIPANT'S HAIR ON EACH SIDE.)
REACH DOWN. (THE ABOVE PHRASES WERE SAID IN A WHISPERING
TONE; THIS ONE IS SAID WITH REAL EXCITEMENT. AS IT IS
BEING SAID, THE PERSON SPREADS HIS FINGERS ACROSS THE
SIDES OF THE HEAD TIGHTLY). TAKE OUT THE BRAIN (THE
PLAYER SUDDENLY PULLS HIS HANDS UP AND THEN YELLS
MADLY PRETENDING THAT HE THROWS THE BRAIN ON THE
FLOOR AND STOMPS ON IT).

Submitter comment: THE PARTICIPANT ACTUALLY SAID THAT SHE FELT THAT HER
BRAIN WAS OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC

Date learned: 10-02-1971