Ready for a career in standup

Amiri sat down next to me and leaned in close to confide a problem.  "Mama," he said, "I don't like my lion any more."  He meant that lion, his much-loved lion, the one whose fur is matted from numerous trips through the washer as a result of all the dragging-around-and-loving.  I asked Amiri why, concerned about his change of heart.  He said, "Lion tried to bite me."  I started asking questions about lionbites so I could get some idea about the imaginary world he lives in... and then he started to laugh, and yelled, 'Joke!  Amiri told Mama a joke!"

There's still love there.