On the Hatrack River Writers Workshop (free registration may be required), someone started a topic on whether it was too “Tolkien-esque” to put dwarves, elves, etc., in a story. Someone mentioned plans to write a story involving a pregnant centaur and a telepath. Someone else said that sounded like the start of a joke: “A pregnant centaur and a telepath walk into a bar…”
So, naturally, I had to come up with a joke that fit.
A pregnant centaur and a telepath walk into a bar.
The bartender says, “What can I get for you?”
The telepath says, “I’d like a martini.”
The bartender turns to the centaur and says, “And for you?”
The centaur turns her head toward the telepath, who concentrates for a moment and then says, “She’s pregnant, so she doesn’t want anything alcoholic. Can you make a virgin margarita?”
The bartender says, “Sure.” Then, with a puzzled frown, he asks, “She didn’t say anything. How did you know what she wants?”
“I’m a telepath.”
“Oh.” The bartender lowers his voice, and says, “I thought centaurs could talk.”
“They can talk. It’s just that she needs to rest her voice, because she’s getting a little hoarse.”