A woman walks into the Liverpool benefits office, trailed by 15 kids...
'WOW,' the social worker exclaims, 'Are they ALL yours?
'Yeah days all mine,' the flustered mother sighs, having heard that question a thousand times before. She says, 'Sit down Terry.' All the children rush to find seats.
'Well,' says the social worker, 'then you must be here to sign up. I'll need all your children's names.'
'Dis one's my oldest - he is Terry.'
'OK, and who's next?'
'Well, dis one he is Terry, also.'
The social worker raises an eyebrow but continues. One by one, through the oldest four, all boys, all named Terry. Then she is introduced to the eldest girl, named Terri. 'All right,' says the caseworker. 'I'm seeing a pattern here. Are they ALL named Terri?'
Their Mother replied, 'Well, yeh-it makes it easier. When it's time to get dem out o bed and ready for school, I yells, 'Terry!' An'
when it's time for dinner, I just yells 'Terry!' an' dey all cum runnin.' An' if I need to stop the kid whu's running into the street, I just yells 'Terry' and all of dem stop. It's du smartest idea I ever ad, namin' em all Terry.'
The social worker thinks this over for a bit, then wrinkles her forehead and says tentatively, 'But what if you just want ONE kid to come, and not the whole bunch?'
'I calls them by their surnames!'