At The Supermarket

Why makes this Joke funny?

The humor in this joke comes from a few different elements:

1. Tension and Resolution: There`s tension when the man behind the 90-year-old curses, and the resolution comes in an unexpected and non-confrontational manner.
2. Surprise: The father’s response is unexpected and somewhat ironic. Given his initial difficulty with counting change, one would anticipate a humble or apologetic reaction. Instead, he wittily threatens an even longer delay, using a check (which traditionally takes longer to process than cash or card).
3. Role Reversal: Typically, we might expect the elder individual to be mild-mannered or unassuming, especially when they are causing a delay. Here, the elder gentleman cleverly turns the situation to his advantage, catching us off guard and providing the punchline.
4. Relatability: Many people have experienced being in a line where a transaction is taking a long time, so this situation might be relatable to some, making the unexpected resolution funnier.
5. Underdog Winning: Often, jokes or stories where a seemingly vulnerable or underpowered individual gets the upper hand or outsmarts others are found to be funny or satisfying.

In short, the twist and cleverness of the older man`s response, combined with the relatability of the situation, create a humorous moment that is likely to generate laughter or at least a knowing smile from those hearing or reading the joke.