Tyco Toys recently opened a new toy factory in Chelmsford, Essex to manufacture and distribute one of its worldwide top-selling lines, the Tickle Me Elmo character doll as characterised from the Muppet character as seen on the children’s television show, Sesame Street. Tickle Me Elmo is a toy that laughs when you tickle it under the arms.
A number of new recruits have been employed and one successful candidate, Sharon reports for her first day promptly at 08.00am and after her induction, starts on the Tickle Me Elmo production line.
During the morning coffee break, there is a knock at the Personnel Manager’s office. It’s the production foreman, Jim. Jim throws the door open, ranting and exclaiming to the Personnel Manager that Sharon is incredibly slow and the whole production line is backing up. Jim explains that the entire production line behind schedule by two hours.
The Personnel Manager decides he should see this for himself and the two men march down to the factory floor. When they arrive, they can clearly see that the production line is so backed up, that there are Tickle Me Elmo dolls all over the factory floor. They’re really beginning to pile up.
At the end of the conveyor belt, there stands Sharon, surrounded by hundreds of Tickle Me Elmo’s. Beside her is a roll of plush Red fabric and a huge bag of small marbles.
The two men watch in amazement as Sharon cuts a little piece of fabric, wraps it around two marbles and carefully commences to sew the little package between Elmo’s legs. The Personnel Manager then bursts into hysterical laughter and after several minutes of belly-aching hilarity and tears in his eyes, he pulls himself together and approaches Sharon.
“Sharon.” He says. “I’m sorry, but I’m barely able to keep a straight face. I think you may have misunderstood my instructions from this morning. Your job is to give Elmo two test tickles!”
