A certain woman demands instant and unquestioning obedience from her
children. One afternoon a storm came up and she sent her little son John
to close the trap leading to the flat roof of the house.
"But, mother," began John.
"John, I told you to shut the trap."
"Yes, but, mother--"
"John, shut that trap!"
"All right, mother, if you say so--but--"
"John!"
Whereupon John slowly climbed the stairs and shut the trap. Two hours
later the family gathered for dinner, but Aunt Mary, who was staying
with the mother, did not appear. The mother, quite anxious, exclaimed,
"Where can Aunt Mary be?"
"I know," John answered triumphantly, "she is on the roof."