"Dad? What's a 'tampon'?" asked Jeffrey innocently. Those four simple words sent an icy shiver down Paul's back and caused parts of his body to retract further than nature had intended. No man should ever be required to answer a question like this.

Paul looked around desperately for his wife Noreen, but he knew she was across the street playing Canasta with her neighbour. She would've known what to do.

This is an example of a commercial men should never have to watch.

"Why the hell would they air a woman's commercial during the game?" questioned Paul. "It's a frickin' hockey broadcast! There shouldn't be any chick stuff! I should only be seeing ads about sports cars, sporting goods, and power tools. I can answer questions about tools!"

Jeffrey was looking back curiously at his nervous father, patiently waiting for an answer.

"Uncomfortable silence I can handle," said Paul. "And I could probably field a question about sex. But even I don't know what the rationale is for the blue dye. If it was blue windshield-wiper fluid I could've told him the answer. Maybe it's seasonal."

Paul stuttered and mumbled out an explanation about doves, stalling for time, but ultimately he gave up making excuses. Instead, he settled on the one answer that would satisfy any boy's curiosity, without needing to go into any further detail.

"It's a girl thing," dad explained, just as the game resumed.

Archived Stories - Human Interest