The First Day of School
A Jewish mother sent her son off to his first day of
school with the customary pride and precautionary
advice: "So bubeleh, you'll be a good boy and listen
to the teacher? And you won't make noise, bubeleh, and
you'll be very polite and play nice with the other
children. And when it's time to come home, you'll
button up warm, so you won't catch cold, bubeleh. And
you'll be careful crossing the street and come straight
home..." etc. etc.
Off the little boy went.
When he returned that afternoon, his mother hugged him
and kissed him and exclaimed, "So did you like school,
bubeleh? You made new friends? you learned something?
Yeah. Said the boy. I learned my name is Irving."