one-wish-3
Explanation
The Joke
A man catches a leprechaun and is granted one wish. He wishes for his mommy and daddy to be back together. The leprechaun, visibly annoyed, says "No" and threatens that if the man does not state a real wish, the leprechaun will kill him. The man then asks a series of pointed questions: "What was her name, Robert?" "What was his?" revealing that the man (Robert) cannot even remember his ex-wife"s name or basic details. He also reveals that Robert checked out of his own marriage, refused to go to counseling, and asks how they could afford it on Robert"s salary.
The twist is that the "one wish" scenario has devolved into a marriage counseling session, with the leprechaun being interrogated about his own failed relationship. In the final panel, the child asks "Do I get mulligans on my wish?" and the leprechaun, now emotionally broken, just says "Yeah, please" -- having been so thoroughly rattled by the confrontation that he has lost all his magical authority.
The Humor
The comic subverts the classic "three wishes" or "one wish" fairy tale setup by turning it into an ambush therapy session. Instead of wishing for riches or power, the man uses his wish to force the leprechaun to confront his failed marriage. The humor escalates as the leprechaun -- who started as the one in control, threatening murder -- is reduced to an emotional wreck by a series of uncomfortable personal questions. The word "mulligans" (a do-over, from golf terminology) in the final panel is the perfect cap, as the leprechaun is now so defeated he will give the man anything just to escape the conversation.