This one originally ran around Halloween. I won’t bother to explain Halloween for those who don’t know about it (likely few in number). I will bother to explain Anne of Green Gables for those who don’t know about it (likely slightly larger in number).

Anne of Green Gables was a book published over one hundred years ago by Canadian author L.M. Montgomery. The story (often considered children’s lit, though some debate that label) concerns two aging siblings who wish to adopt a boy to help them around the farm in turn-of-the-century Prince Edward Island. A girl (Anne) shows up, and though she’s not initially wanted, she wins over the whole town with her wild imagination and winning personality. Anne has bright red hair, freckles, and bears more than a passing resemblance to Puck.

For the record, Anne of Green Gables has been translated into 36 languages and is insanely popular in Japan, though no one quite knows why. There’s even an anime movie version of the book. The Green Gables farmhouse in PEI gets tons of Japanese tourists visiting every year, some of whom plan Japanese Green Gables weddings where the bride dresses up as Anne. I’m totally serious here.

In the book, Anne’s age ranges from ten to eighteen, but Puck’s dressed up as the iconic ten year-old Anne – hence her reaction to Colin’s revelation.

Like all such comedy, if you don’t know Anne of Green Gables, the joke isn’t quite as funny, but c’est la vie.

I’m not sure what the heck Colin is dressed up as: maybe Robin Hood, maybe Peter Pan, maybe Link, maybe Legolas.