Short Fiction · Chapter
Ridiculous explained
A short, humorous editorial note recounts a nonsensical riddle left at the office by a young man who fled immediately.
What happens
A short, humorous editorial note recounts a nonsensical riddle left at the office by a young man who fled immediately. The riddle compares the coming Sunday to a very young body because 'it's neck's weak,' which the editor dismisses as absurd, noting that days cannot have necks. The piece serves as a critique of the trivial and foolish submissions received by the paper.
Themes in this chapter
Humor and Irony
The chapter uses a ridiculous riddle and the editor's deadpan dismissal to highlight the absurdity of trivial submissions, employing irony to critique the quality of reader contributions.
Key passages
“Why is the coming Sunday like a very young body? Answer: Because it's neck's weak.”
What makes the upcoming Sunday similar to an infant? The answer is that its neck is weak.
The riddle plays on the pun 'neck's weak' sounding like 'next week,' but the editor rejects it as nonsensical.