738. Around the campfire

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Rex was by nature a little withdrawn. He didn’t exude social confidence. I suppose it was natural for some boys of fifteen. Anyway…

He was on a boys’ camp. Everyone was sitting around the camp fire and telling jokes. It was really funny.

Harry told this really funny joke about a rhinoceros. Everyone shrieked with laughter. And Rex said, “If pigs oink and geese honk, what do mouses do?”

No one listened to him and Nigel told this really funny joke about a pet gnu. Everyone shrieked with laughter even though some didn’t have a clue what a gnu was. And Rex said, “If pigs oink and geese honk, what do mouses do?”

No one listened to him and Alistair told this really funny joke about this stallion with a big donger. Everyone shrieked with laughter. And Rex said, “If pigs oink and geese honk, what do mouses do?”

No one listened to him and Dennis started to tell this really funny joke and Rex got up and went back to his tent and listened to some music.

Listen the story being read HERE!

49 thoughts on “738. Around the campfire”

Cynthia Jobin October 18, 2015 at 7:29 am

I think this is one of my favorites of your stories, Bruce….so beautifully built and poetic in expression but also capturing truth about those many little crossroads moments in the life of one who might become an artist, or a serial killer.

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 7:31 am
  
  Thanks, Cynthia. I was just thinking it to be one of my favorites as well, when your comment came! Thank you again!
  
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2. thecontentedcrafter October 18, 2015 at 8:03 am
  
  Perfectly said Cynthia!! A little gem from our Bruce today!
  
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  1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 8:06 am
    
    To be called a gem by the Light Catcher!
    
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    1. thecontentedcrafter October 18, 2015 at 9:40 am
      
      😀
      
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3. Yvonne October 18, 2015 at 12:53 pm
  
  I opt for the serial killer choice. Go, Rex.
  
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  1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 12:59 pm
    
    Perhaps Rex was born to be a king! (There’s a bit of a snobby classical allusion in my comment! :D)
    
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    1. Yvonne October 18, 2015 at 1:03 pm
      
      Whatever …
      
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Susanne October 18, 2015 at 8:02 am

This is why I love blogging. You can’t tell if anyone isn’t listening. You can just go on and on and on and on and on…. Another good one, Bruce.

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 8:05 am
  
  Thanks Susanne! I would never miss a wuthering bite if I can help it! Or even spying a new gravatar!!
  
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  1. Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 4:26 pm
    
    I recall spying a billy goat suddenly morph into a raven then only days later into a floral bouquet!
    
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    1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 4:31 pm
      
      I’m never satisfied with the way I look!
      
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      1. Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 4:42 pm
        
        Fickle little Flower!
        
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thecontentedcrafter October 18, 2015 at 8:05 am

One of those pivotal moments that change a life – recognised!! It is the best of your little yarns yet I think!

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 8:07 am
  
  Thanks, Pauline. One in 738 is not bad!!!!
  
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  1. thecontentedcrafter October 18, 2015 at 9:41 am
    
    Oh no Sir! There have been at least two others ……… 🙂
    
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    1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 10:43 am
      
      😀
      
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Shubha Athavale October 18, 2015 at 10:08 am

Good one Bruce. So what do mouses do?

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 10:45 am
  
  You’ll have to ask Rex – and unfortunately he’s busy listening to music!
  
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2. Yvonne October 18, 2015 at 12:55 pm
  
  So frustrating, to never know what mouses do, Shubha. Unless … maybe Bruce will do a sequel to this yarn.
  
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  1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 12:57 pm
    
    It’s like the riddle in Alice – Why is a raven like a writing desk? I’m predicting whole libraries of the future will be devoted to finishing my little joke… !
    
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Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 4:36 pm

Mouses are a unique hybrid of two animals, the cow 🐮 and the snake🐍. The mouse therefore makes a mixed sound derived from it’s two ancestors: mooooo + ssssssss.

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1. Cynthia Jobin October 18, 2015 at 4:39 pm
  
  You’re confusing a mouse with a moose…..
  
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  1. Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 4:49 pm
    
    I know, but I thought it far more clever than describing the squeak of mice.
    
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    1. Cynthia Jobin October 18, 2015 at 4:53 pm
      
      Oh..now mice may be something different from mouses……plurals can be very tricky you know,
      goose/geese, moose/meese, house/hice, blouse/blice, spouse/spice….etc….
      
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      1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 5:14 pm
        
        Sheep/shop… oh! and gnu/gnus (pronounced g-nus (rhymes with thus))
        
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2. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 5:11 pm
  
  Oscar, that is the most terrible joke I’ve heard all day!!!!
  
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  1. Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 5:15 pm
    
    Good thing tomorrow starts a new slate in three hours!
    
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    1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 5:19 pm
      
      Great Scot! We’re just starting Sunday drinks!
      
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      1. Cynthia Jobin October 18, 2015 at 5:22 pm
        
        And I’m just starting Sunday itself….nitey-night!
        
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        Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 7:07 pm
        
        Good night, sweet Lady. Good night. Good night. Good night.
        
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      2. Oscar Alejandro Plascencia October 18, 2015 at 6:12 pm
        
        Alas my Sunday drinks won’t start till after work tomorrow…just in time for A Star Is Born round two “voting” in 21 hrs.
        
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        Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 18, 2015 at 7:08 pm
        
        You mean in the USA you can find something to watch on tele? !
        
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derrickjknight October 18, 2015 at 9:29 pm

Alas, poor Rex. That excruciating period captured beautifully.

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 19, 2015 at 6:27 am
  
  Thanks, Derrick. We knew him well!
  
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southamptonoldlady October 18, 2015 at 11:13 pm

I think I wanted a nicer ending. I thought it was going to be where the shy guy pipes up, “Anyone heard the one about the little owl…” several times and no-one listens. Then by the end of the night when jokes are running thin. Someone remembers him and asks, “What’s the one about the Little Owl? ” Reply: “I don’t know it – just wanted to know if anyone had heard it?”

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 19, 2015 at 6:28 am
  
  Thank you! Perhaps you could start a collection of the stories, with alternative endings! 😀
  
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  1. southamptonoldlady October 20, 2015 at 8:31 am
    
    I wouldn’t presume to. I like most of your stories and their endings – I just thought I should stand up for the underdog in this case.
    
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    1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 20, 2015 at 8:38 am
      
      🙂 I always suspected you might have been Emmeline Pankhurst in disguise!
      
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jan October 19, 2015 at 5:57 am

The awkwardness of the teen years, perfectly and painfully wrought.

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 19, 2015 at 6:29 am
  
  Thanks, Jan. They say “oh to be young again!” – I couldn’t think of much worse!
  
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jan October 19, 2015 at 6:40 am

Me either!

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noelleg44 October 19, 2015 at 3:18 pm

Lovely story! So what do mouses do?

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 19, 2015 at 4:03 pm
  
  You’ll have to ask Rex – he was the one telling the joke!
  
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umashankar October 24, 2015 at 5:38 pm

The quite beauty of the story is humbling. It’s amazing how you compress oceans into a middling stream.

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1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 24, 2015 at 7:29 pm
  
  Thank you Uma Shankar! I learn from those who know how – such as … umashankar….
  
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  1. umashankar October 24, 2015 at 8:03 pm
    
    Come on, Bruce!
    
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    1. Bruce Goodman Post authorOctober 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm
      
      Stop hitting yourself… you’ve got a writing style and an imagination that’s remarkable and one (in fact) I could never emulate.
      
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      1. umashankar October 24, 2015 at 9:39 pm
        
        I will remember that. At the same time, your style will remain a model to me.
        
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