You try to will the story to give you the funniest joke it can, trying to manifest it as a piece of paper in your pocket, or perhaps a passing conversation. However no such luck comes, and soon you are at the front of the line. You are lead through the sturdy oak doors and to a stage that is circular, white brick, and raised slightly. Surrounding it in concentric rings are wooden benches, though very few people are there.. High above on a nearby wall is the Princess' balcony, from which the royal watches in boredom as you and Tamako step in.

"Me first!" Your daughter says, springing forward onto the stage before you can.

"A child? Well, get on with it then." The Princess says with a sigh.

"What did the goth say about the vampire?" Tamako says, and after a beat finishes, "That he was drop dead gorgeous!"

"Show her how we punish unfunny children." The Princess says after a moment of silence. A guard walks up holding a jar of paint and a brush. The guard asks Tamako to please hold still, and begins to paint on her face. She is given a few shapes over her eyes or on her cheeks, as well as a mustache and some X's and circles.

"Do you feel appropriately punished?" The Princess asks.

"Yes, my liege." Tamako says with a curtsy.

"Very good." The Princess replies. "And don't bother with a good wash and scrub of your face. It most certainly won't remove the paint."

She is given a look in a mirror, and she says, "Dang, I thought that was a good joke too. What do you find funny anyway?"

"If I knew that little one, this whole thing wouldn't be necessary." The princess responds. "Certainly not silly jokes or puns. Now, off with you."

"That wasn't so bad." the graffiti faced child says as she hops down from the platform. Your daughter is then allowed to sit in a nearby chair while you are ushered up on stage.

Well, it's now or never.