number one

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/62262

number one A teacher told me about an experience that she had during the school year 1966-67, with a group of grade two kids. She said: "We were in class about an half hour, in the morning, when a little girl, Judy, (fictional name) put up he hand and asked: "Please may I go out to piss?" I told her not to say that, but to say I want to do my "_number one."_ v [reverse] A little while after Johnny (fictional name) put up his hand and asked: "Please may I go out to shit? I reminded him and the rest of the class, she said, never to use that word but to say instead: "I want to do 'my _number two_.' About 20 minutes before the class was dismissed, I looked down toward the back of the room, and there was Jimmy (fictional name) with his hand raised and looking very worried. I asked him: "What's your trouble Jimmy? You look so worried.' He said, 'Miss, I wants to fart, and I don't know the number!' "Of course," she said, "there was nothing I could do but laugh." The story evoked the same kind of reaction from me - laughter. DICT CEN. [check] Not used Not used Withdrawn Newfoundland Folklore Survey card;two sided, first-side is N_14639