Shirley & Marcy
Foreword–A “mondegreen” is the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase as a result of near homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It most commonly is applied to a line in a poem or a lyric in a song (From Wikipedia) The American mystery writer Ed McBain titled one of his books, “Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear.” In the same way, the piece that follows is a mondegreen. I don’t know who wrote it, I copied it out of an email sent to me. I think you will enjoy it.
Shirley & Marcy
A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn’t notice her.
The neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy’s little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, ‘Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?’
Timmy nonchalantly replied, ‘Yeah, I know who she is.’ The little girl said, ‘Well, who is she?’
‘That’s just Shirley Goodnest ,’ Timmy replied, ‘and her daughter Marcy …’
“Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?”
‘Well,’ Timmy explained, ‘every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, ‘cuz she worries about me so much.’
And in the Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life’, so I guess I’ll just have to get used to it!’
May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.
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Loved it Oldbull ,reminds me of friends husband ,he was not a Catholic but came to Mass regularly with his wife.Anyway he met the priest and said ” Hello Peter God” after wife asked him why he called the priest Peter God .
He replied that’s his names ,no it isn’t replied his wife” where did you get that idea from” . Well he said you call him that” wife asked when “ater mass every Sunday you say”thanks Peter God” laughing she said ” no it’s thanks be to God”
That’s a good ‘un macathy.
This is an adorable story Oldbull, and I have a similar one to share.
The children in Sunday School were told to draw the nativity scene. Afterwards, the teacher went around looking at their work. She came to Johnny’s work and was puzzled.
“Johnny, you’ve drawn a wonderful picture of the nativity scene – I can see Mary, the Baby Jesus, the shepherds and the three kings, but tell me, who is this fat, roly poly man here on the side?”
“Oh that’s Round John Virgin,” Johnny replied.