to ask for your help solving this impossible riddle/joke

[killingtime9198]

My best friend's family have a family 'joke', which she originally told me about when we were about 12/13. When she originally told me she didn't get the joke either, but then later did manage to work it out. When she first met her now husband he didn't get it, but he later also worked it out. I have never managed to get it, and every now and again I will remember the saga of this joke (this has been going on for about 20 years now), try desperately for a few days to work it out and then forget all about it for months.

Anyway, I wonder if the powers of mumsnet can either locate someone who has heard this 'joke' before, or who can work it out!

The joke is:

'There once was a man called Boswell. For short they called him Bos, and he walked up the post office steps.'

The joke is definitely NOT that there is no joke, and they're all having a laugh at me for trying to work it out - I am 100% confident of this.

This thread is a real whirlwind of emotions.

I think the poster who said it's to do with the story being cut short is correct.

Its the only theory that fits with the clues from OPs friend and includes the whole joke. It is simple. Occams Razor.

(I meant 'who's Andy' making the most sense)
(But actually it doesn't work if she's a she)

I think a previous poster might have it with the 'what for?', 'well..'
I've nc'd because I've Googled this stupid riddle and nothing cones up so if anyone in my family are on here it's outing but this was our one that we were tormented as children by- 'Again and Againagain got on a bus, againagain got off, who was left?' So you say again and they repeat the fucking thing like you haven't got it first time. Drove me mad as a kid.
So the people who 'got it' eventually got it because they eventually asked what for and were told 'Well..' and that sunk in as the part of the joke at some point and it clicked.
It's shit but it makes sense.

Or if OP did at some point ask why and was told 'well..' with a shrug it mightn't have clicked that the question was part of the joke. Like me with fucking again bitter childhood memories rearing their ugly heads

Another idea - could this be a golfing reference, i.e. "Fore" not "For". I don't know anything about golf, but could calling 'Fore' or 'Fore short' in a golf context be a reason for someone to climb some steps?

This was all people had for entertainment in the 18th century.

The Andy thing makes no sense because it could be and she. Andshee is not a name to the best of my knowledge. I don't want to get sucked into this but I can't stop

Who's starting the new thread once this one hits 1000 posts?

I meant 'who's Andy' making the most sense)
But actually it doesn't work if she's a she)

It doesn't work with a he anyway. It's an awful attempt at being funny!

I do think it's the most likely tho

Where the fuck did someone called Andy come from??? I can't keep up

And where in the name of Jesus is OP!!??

Anglo-Saxons' equivalent of Netflix 😂

www.abdn.ac.uk/sll/disciplines/english/beowulf/riddle.htm

thedockyards.com/10-wise-anglo-saxon-riddles-medieval-enthusiast-know/

Whole thread. Still don't know.

Surely it the 'Who's Andy?' One?

First time poster but I hate not being able to solve riddles and this really bugged me.

So a real long shot but I'm taking a wild guess in the hope that it may at least get us nearer to solving it or at least rule it out.

OP you stated that is was' better when spoken rather than written down. So on that basis sounding out 'called him bas' could sound like 'col um bas' ... Hence Christopher Columbus, an explorer, i.e a person that went places.

Please ask your friend :)

Hello light 👋🏻

I think we should just adopt your solution regardless in honour of your first ever MN post and to put a stop to the madness

It has a nice learned ring to it, in any case.

Shameless place marking in case we ever get the answer!

I think kingbobra is right. The joke is that for short they called him “Bosandhewalkedupthepostofficesteps“

Ha
Ha
Ha
Hee
Hee
Hee
/s

OP doesn’t have a friend. There is no riddle. We have 39 pages of lies and it’s given me trust issues.

Wish I had never read this.

Can't be @kingbobra the OP said it could be anywhere, not just a post office..so doesn't work 😡

God, this is bloody ruining my life!

OP doesn’t have a friend. There is no riddle. We have 39 pages of lies and it’s given me trust issues.

😁😁😂

Hey, the OP has pondered this for 20 years. You think she cares we have had for a mere 24 hours (plus a few)?!

I agree, joke is that for short they called him 'Bosandhewalkedupthepostofficesteps' would still work with 'Bosandhewalkedtothelibrary'or whatever as the joke is that anything like that is longer than 'Bos'

I think the joke is when the listener, asks, "Well?" after the teller says the hilarious gag. 'Well' is Bos's surname so, when the teller says the line:

For short they called him 'Bosandhewalkedupthepostofficesteps'

The listener then asks, "Well?" (in an all confused, is that it?! type question)

The teller then says, "Correct!" to confirm that Bos's shortened name is indeed BosandhewalkedupthepostofficestepsWell. The teller missed off the Well bit. The listener inadvertently says it and inadvertently completes his full name.

Does this make sense? Do I win?..

@Againriddle - I don't even understand your family riddle and you've given the answer there!