The Viper Kitty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Winterjoy: ⭐⭐⭐
How perfect for this first entry in the year 2026 would be the beginning of a new chapter. Even better, it’s the silly joke stories chapter! The following story was a favorite in my household. I’m excited.
The Viper
A widow lived alone on the top floor of an apartment house. One morning her telephone rang.
“Hello,” she said.
“This is the viper,” a man said. “I’m coming up.”
“Somebody is fooling around,” she thought, and hung up.
A half-hour later the telephone rang again. It was the same man.
“It’s the viper,” he said. “I’ll be up soon.”
The widow didn’t know what to think, but she was getting frightened.
Once more the telephone rang. Again it was the viper.
“I’m coming up now,” he said.
She quickly called the police. They said they would be right over. When the doorbell rang, she sighed with relief. “They are here!” she thought.
But when she opened the door, there stood a little old man with a bucket and a cloth. “I am the viper,” he said. “I vish to vash and vipe the vindows.”
*****
The parallel that Schwartz sites here is Knapp, p. 247. He is referring to Mary and Herbert Knapp’s 1976 book One Potato, Two Potato: The Secret Education of American Children. (1) Here is the entry:
A man calls up a woman on the phone and tells her he is coming up to her apartment. She asks him who he is, and he says, “The Widow Viper.” He telephones her from every floor as he approaches her apartment. The woman calls the police. When she hears a knock on the door she says, “Oh, thank heavens,” and opens it. And there stands… a little old man who says, “I’m the widow viper. Do you want your widows vashed?”
*****
Kitty
- In what environment did you read the story? On my couch. The dog is staring at me. I think I will read him the story and see if he laughs. Update: He rolled his eyes.
- Do you remember having read this story as a kid? Yes!! This one was a favorite.
- Analyze the actions of the characters in the story. Did they make sense? Would you have done anything differently? I think if someone kept phoning me telling me they’re on their way and I didn’t know who it was, I’d leave and call the cops at the nearest payphone.
- Which was your favorite and least favorite character and why? My favorite character was the Viper because he totally knew what he was doing when calling 700 times letting her know he’s on his way.
- What did you think of the storytelling style? I like this type. It builds tension, and you really want to know who this viper is, and why he keeps calling her to let her know he was coming up. Maybe he thought she was senile and that she would forget that he had called? Or maybe he forgot that he called. My point is, we want to see this viper, and very soon.
- Examine the art for the story. What are your thoughts on it? Hilarious. This guy has a smile on his face like he just pulled a very funny prank on someone. Or just farted. Either way, he’s pretty satisfied with himself.
- Your overall rating and why: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a classic and a dear to my heart joke story. Good times.
Winterjoy
- In what environment did you read the story? Well…nothing new and exciting on this end again lol. In my room. But it’s snowing! Is that exciting??
- Do you remember having read this story as a kid? I remembered by the end of it.
- Analyze the actions of the characters in the story. Did they make sense? Would you have done anything differently? I think I would have done what the widow did almost exactly. Except..I don’t understand why she didn’t say anything to the strange caller? Or literally even answer the call at all. If they need me that badly, they can send a text message.
- Which was your favorite and least favorite character and why? Maybe my favorite character is the “viper”. He was just an old man trying to do his job. My least favorite character is the phone.
- What did you think of the storytelling style? I legitimately was so confused at the beginning of the story. I genuinely was about to look up what a “viper” was lol. They got me! But that is pretty humorous how “viper” sounds like something ominous and your brain goes with that feeling all on its own…
- Examine the art for the story. What are your thoughts on it? That old man is so creepy! His giant feet disgust me. I would never let him in to wipe my windows. Go away. I’ll do it myself. Thanks, no thanks.
- Your overall rating and why: ⭐⭐⭐. It was silly and had a funny ending.
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