For @nebula, who asked for jokes while she awaits the possibility of jury duty. But this joke is too long for a comment. Also, beware what you ask for. You might not get what you expect.
A young boy graduated from elementary school with straight As. His father was so proud of him. So he told his son "Son, I'm so proud of you. I want to buy you a graduation gift. What do you want?" The boy replied, "I want a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball." Not what the father expected. The father told his son he would buy him a bicycle, but not the pink polka dot ping pong table, the pink polka dot ping pong paddle and the pink polka dot ping pong ball. The son refused the bike and received nothing.
It turns out, the boy was extremely smart, a prodigy. However, being smart he resisted efforts to skip grades so that he wouldn't be socially awkward. When he was 18, he graduated high school with straight As. After his high school graduation, the boy's father said, "Son I'm so proud of you. What can I buy you as a graduation gift?" The boy replied "I want a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball." The father couldn't believe the some still wanted this and refused to buy him a pink polka dot ping pong table, pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. Instead, he offered his son a new car... any car he wanted. The boy refused.
Four years later, the man's son graduated college at the top of his class and was valedictorian. As he had in the past, the father offered to buy his son a gift for graduation, this time a house. But when asked, the boy simply told his father that he wanted a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. Once again the father refused to buy his son a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. And as he had done in the past, the boy refused his father's gift offer.
After college, the boy entered medical school. He graduated from medical school summa cum laude. Once again the father offered to buy him a gift. The boy made his wish known once agai; he wanted a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. The father said "Son, that is ridiculous. I will not buy you a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. Let me set you up with your medical practice. The boy politely refused again.
A few years later, the boy, now a man and a respected doctor and researcher, developed a cure for most kinds of cancer and was awarded a Nobel prize for his discovery. The man's father offered to buy him something in recognition of his accomplishment. The man told his father that he wants a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong paddle. Once again, the man's father refused to buy him a pink polka dot ping pong ball. The son did not explain and received no gift once again.
Not more than two years passed and the man was diagnosed with an extremely rare type of cancer; one that, unfortunately could not be cured by the cure the man had developed. It was terminal and after a long battle, the man was on his deathbed with his father by his side. "Son, I am so very proud of you. You're extremely smart and you've save thousands of people. All your life you've refused my lavish gifts, only asking for a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball. I will buy you a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball, but before I do, please tell me why you want a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball?"
The man began his explanation. "I want a pink polka dot ping pong table, a pink polka dot ping pong paddle and a pink polka dot ping pong ball because..." The man took a shallow breath and died.
Yes, I know. This is possibly the meanest joke ever. And I'm sorry. I don't know why he wanted the pink polka dot ping pong equipment.