The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CATCH JOKE

THIS IS A FAIRY STORY AND A RIDDLE.
ONCE THERE WAS A GREAT KING WHO HAD TWO UNMARRIED
DAUGHTERS. A BRAVE KNIGHT CAME TO CALL ON THE KING AND
WAS IMMEDIATELY OFFERED THE CHANCE TO MARRY INTO THE ROYAL
FAMILY. NOW ONE DAUGHTER WAS TERRIBLY HOMELY, BUT SHE WAS
A TERRIFIC HOMEMAKER AND A GREAT COOK. SHE WAS, EXCEPT
FOR HER LOOKS, A PERFECT MATE. THE OTHER DAUGHTER WAS
BEAUTIFUL-- BUT HELPLESS. SHE COULD NEITHER COOK NOR
KEEP HOUSE. AFTER LENGTHY DELIBERATION, THE FOUR OF THEM--
THE KING, THE TWO DAUGHTERS, AND THE BRAVE KNIGHT--
GATHERED TO HEAR THE DECISION. WHOM DID HE CHOOSE?
(AT THIS POINT THE LISTENER GUESSES ONE DAUGHTER OR
THE OTHER.) WRONG! HE CHOSE THE KING. I TOLD YOU IT
WAS A FAIRY STORY.

Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS JOKE ON MY JOB AT DETROIT BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY IN 1977. THE JOKE, OF COURSE, IS IN THE DOUBLE-
ENTENDRE OF THE MEANING OF THE WORD "FAIRY", WHICH IS
USED HERE AS A DERISIVE TERM FOR HOMOSEXUALS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH TALE