A woman walks into the St Helens benefits office, trailed by 15 kids...
'WOW,' the social worker exclaims, 'Are they ALL yours?
'Yeah they are 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.'
'This one's my oldest - he is Terry.'
'OK, and who's next?'
'Well this 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, yes-it makes it easier. When it is time to get
them out of bed and ready for school, I yell, 'Terry!' An' when it's time for dinner, I just yell 'Terry!' an' they all come
runnin.' An' if I need to stop the kid who's running into the street, I just
yell 'Terry' and all of them stop. It's the smartest idea I ever had,
namin' them 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?'
‘Then’ she says……….'I call them by their surnames!'
- 
