With all due respect, I don't believe that yours is the true origin of the shaggy dog genre (of which I am a connasoo... connesie.. fan!) The original shaggy dog story is:
Back in the medieval days, all of the King's knights went through a rigorous training school. For weeks, each would learn the intricacies of a knight's tools: lances, swords, clubs, iron fists -- the whole nine yards.
At the end of this "basic training," each knight would receive a shining helmet from the King and the stablemaster would present him with his own horse -- fully equipped and ready for battle.
Well, there was one class that was particularly large, and the class was particularly successful in learning the trade. So, during their graduation an embarrassing and awkward situation occurred. It seems that, as the last knight reached the king and received his helmet, he turned to the stablemaster to receive his new steed. Unfortunately, there were no more horses.
Now you can imagine the disappointment of the fledgling knight. All those weeks of training and practice -- all seemingly for naught.
Just then, as he's talking to the stablemaster, a big old grungy shaggy dog ambles by. He's old. There are fleas flying all around him and he doesn't look too sturdy. Still, the knight thinks, he's big enough to support me.
So he turns to the stablemaster and says, "Hey, how about letting me use your sheepdog until a horse is available?"
The stablemaster looks at the new knight in shock and horror and shakes his head vigorously.
"I wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this." |
