Clarence was going to the local single’s dance. It was a big deal for him. He’d lost one eye, and being of very modest means, his fake one was made of wood not glass. And it wasn’t a very convincing fake. He was shy and very self-conscious about his wood eye and people often stopped and stared. And sometimes people even made fun of him, pointing and laughing.
But, he summoned his courage and went to the dance.
He stood alone in a corner afraid to speak to anyone. Then across the room he spied another wallflower. A girl with a severe harelip. She looked shy and alone too. She was sitting in a chair, and no one was asking her to dance. She looked miserable.
“Well surely,” thought Clarence, “of all people, that girl wouldn’t refuse a request to dance.”
So he gallantly crossed the room and asked:
“Would you like to dance?”
Incredulous and overcome, she gasped, “Would I? Would I?”
And he barked back “Harelip! Harelip!”