Laugh Lines

Cajun careers

Boudreaux and Thibodeaux get fired from their jobs the same day, so off they go to the unemployment office.

Boudreaux goes in first.

The man behind the desk says, “Mr. Boudreaux, I’m sorry to hear that you lost your job. What did you do for a living?”

Boudreaux replies, “I’m a diesel fitter.”

The clerk says, “OK, diesel fitter is skilled labor, so we can give you $800 a week until you find a new job.”

Thibodeaux goes in next, and the clerk asks what his job was. “I’m a panty-waist sewer. I sew de waistbands in dem women’s panties.”

The clerk says, “Well, I’m afraid that’s unskilled labor, so we can’t give you but $200 a week.”

As they’re walking home, Thibodeaux says, “I got to find a new job quick. I can’t feed all dem kids on $200 a week.”

Boudreaux says, “I’ll help you out. I’m getting $800 a week.”

Furious, Thibodeaux runs back to the unemployment office. “Why’re you giving Boudreaux $800 a week an’ I ain’t getting but $200?” he demands.

The clerk replies, “Well, Mr. Boudreaux is a skilled laborer. He’s a diesel fitter.”

Thibodeaux says, “That ain’t no skilled labor. I sew de waistband in dem panties, I hand ’em to Boudreaux and he pulls ’em down over his head and says, ‘Aw yeah,

diesel fitter.’”

Laugh Lines is compiled from various sources, including reader submissions and websites. Origins are included when known.

Lisa Denton