Why Cannibals Don't Eat Clowns

"Why don't cannibals eat clowns?" That's the beginning of a silly little joke that was told at our house several months ago--probably before Thanksgiving. After the punch line, Lance made another little joke that our cute Thayne didn't get. He thought his dad was being serious. That lead to this next conversation a few weeks ago.

As we're gathering around the dinner table for our evening meal, Thayne says in the most serious voice, "Mom, if I get to go on a mission were I have to dress up like a clown, I'll..."

"What?" questions Mom.

"You know that place on a island where all the missionaries have to wear clown costumes so the people won't eat them so the missionaries can teach them the gospel. You know those people that eat other people."

Chuckling a reply, "Cannibals?"

"Yeah!!!" Thayne says, "those people."

Then the older conversation all comes back to mind. (See below)

"Thayne, that was just a joke."

Thayne looks confused for a second. Mom starts laughing, "Thayne, there really aren't any places were missionaries get to dress-up like clowns everyday instead of wearing suits. There really are still places were there are cannibals, but the missionaries don't go there."

"Oooooh, I get it now. That's funny." Thayne smiles at himself.

Then Lance came in and we told him Thayne's funny story.

OLD Conversation also around the dinner table:
Lance: "Why don't cannibals eat clowns?"
Some innocent, young, impressionable child: "I don't know, why?"
Lance: "Because they taste funny!"
(Children laughing at Dad's corny joke. Melissa rolling her eyes and shaking her head.)
Lance, "In fact, in some places where there are cannibals, missionaries have to dress-up like clowns instead of wearing suits. That way the people will listen to the missionaries because cannibals don't eat clowns."
The conversation took off from there with Dallin, Bruce, Thayne, and Hunter all talking about missionaries getting to wear clown suits and how they would change into their normal suits in their apartments and all kinds of stuff like that. Apparently it was a good conversation because Thayne was still thinking about it months later!

I'm so glad Thayne is totally willing to serve a mission where ever he'll be called--no matter what he has to wear while serving!!