The Municipal Zoo and Beer Garden in Horse Piddle, Georgia,
is attempting to build its collection of rare exotics into the best
in the world and sends a spokesman to the greatest big game collector
in the world.

        Mr. Zoo Spokesman: We absolutely, positutely MUST have a
short-necked giraffe.  Now we don't know if there is such a thing,
but we do know that, if there is, you can get one for us.

        Mr. Greatest Big Game Collector in the World: I'm sorry,
but I've retired.

        Mr. ZS: We're prepared to offer you $1 million.

        Mr. GBGCitW: I just came out of retirement.

        Mr. GBGCitW gets on a plane, travels to Africa, and goes
out into the jungle where Tarzan sits, painting white stripes on
black zebras [shaggy-dog story teller makes brush strokes toward
the right with right hand] and black stripes on white zebras [makes
similar motions to the left with left hand].

        Shaggy-dog story teller looks quizzically at audience, as
if awaiting a question.  Usually no question comes at this point,
so he continues.

        Mr. GBGCitW: Tarzan, ole fren, I absolutely, positutely
must have a short necked giraffe.  Now I don't know if there is
such a thing, but I do know that, if there is, you can get one for me.

        Tarzan thinks a moment, gives his famous yell (AaayyyAAaaaa!),
and goes swinging off through the trees.  After a while he comes
back with a short-necked giraffe.

        Mr. GBGCitW says, "Thankee Tarzan," takes the short-necked
giraffe home, collects his $1 million, and re-retires.

        Shaggy-dog story teller goes through the same thing over again,
ad infinitim, ad nauseam, or at least as long as his audience will sit
still, inventing paisley tigers, three-tailed kangaroos, etc.  Each
time he gets to Tarzan painting white stripes on black zebras and
black stripes on white zebras, he pauses and queries, "Don't you have
a question *yet*?"  Eventually--perhaps only with prodding--someone
will ask, "Why is Tarzan always painting white stripes on black zebras
and black stripes on white zebras?"

        Then the shaggy-dog story teller says (trying not to sound
too triumphant and smug), "Because Tarzan stripes forever!"