Jokes bring strokes and verbal cleverness gets points in playground circles. Puns and other verbal by-play can be taken from the story and used to impress friends. An actual joke, if not too long or hard to remember, is a bonus.

From Can Do, Zan where a bear visits their campsite in the Minnesota Boundary Waters.

“Go! Get away from that food!” Nick shouted at the bear.

Like a turtle checking for danger, Zan slowly slid his head out the tent flap and aimed his flashlight toward the clanking and banging sounds. Two yellow eyes glared back followed by a deep rumbling sound like a truck starting up. Zan sucked his head back inside, zipped the door, shut off the flashlight and groped around for his shoes.

“Now, what are you doing?” Lazelle asked.

“Putting on my running shoes.”

“What for? You can’t outrun a bear in the woods – especially in the dark.”

“I don’t need to outrun the bear,” TJ shot back quickly. “I just need to outrun you.”