Regional humor
Rose, Dorothy, and the Therapist
Four women who love one another and badly need a break. A therapist asks Rose how Dorothy’s criticism makes her feel. Rose answers in the language of St. Olaf—or at least the St. Olaf of my imagination.
The fun is in the precision: an impossibly specific literal meaning, an equally elaborate figurative one, and Dorothy reaching the end of her patience before Rose reaches the end of her vocabulary.
THERAPIST: Rose, how do you feel about Dorothy saying these things about you?
ROSE: I think she’s a gerkonenokken. Literally, it’s the precise moment when dog doo turns white. But figuratively it refers to the kind of person you don’t want to share your hootencoggles with.
DOROTHY: Rose, if you say one more of those stupid words—
ROSE: Oh, blow it out your tubenburbles!