Welcome to the Elsewhere, a place I go to pretend I know what I'm talking about when I talk about writing fiction. And you pretend you don't know what I'm about to say.

Knock, knock
Who's there
Boo
Boo who?
Why are you crying?

"Knock, knock" jokes are probably one of the first jokes you learned. They work out of novelty. In other words, they work because we don't know the punchline.

Knock, knock
Who's there
Boo
Boo who?
Why are you crying?

Why bother telling the joke if you already know it? There's no point. The same with many 'twist-in-the-tail' stories. Sure, it's got a zinger in the end, but, once you know the zinger, does the story become pointless?

It's not limited to written fiction, either. Most of the Bruckheimer C.S.I. franchises are devoid of characterization or theme. They just have the clues, the crime, and the denoument. If you see a repeated episode (summer dull-drum season, syndication, whatever) does it have the same thrill?

Contrast this with the Dick Wolf Law & Order franchises. They are scarcely removed from C.S.I., and have injected much more crime scene analysis to match. However, their characters, however unprofessional, become involved with the cases and interact with each other because of the crimes unfolding before us.

That's the same point to the "twist-in-the-tail" short story. If it absolutely must have a twist, make sure the story works even if the twist is known. That way, the reader can revisit the story and get something else out of it.

Oh, and it works for jokes, too. Here's the punchline for this example: "What do you mean, 'didn't try?' I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"

The river overflowed the banks and washed through the streets, trapping everyone along this one road.

The residents climbed to the second floors of their homes. A Red Cross boat motored by, and the volunteer shouted, "Climb in!" One by one, they did so.

One man stood his ground. "I have faith that my Lord will save me." The Red Cross volunteer shrugged and went to the next house. Soon, his little boat was full and he motored off.

The waters rose, forcing the few remaining residents even higher. The Sheriff's deputy roared up in a boat and shouted, "Climb in!"

"No! God will save me!"

"Suit yourself!" The deputy steered his craft to the other homes and collected the other flood victims.

The waters continued to rise, and the man climed out the gable window and onto the roof. A Coast Guard helicopter, fighting the winds, lowered a rescue diver in a harness.

"My Lord will provide!" He could not be heard over the propwash, so he gave up shouting and simply waved his arms.

The rescue diver beckoned once more, then gestured upwards, and the helicopter flew off.

The waters continued to rise, and the man drowned. As a reward for his faith, he was allowed through the Pearly Gates. He stood before God and wailed, "I believed in You, Lord! Why didn't you even try to save me?"

"What do you mean, 'didn't try?' I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"

Re-readability, like humour, is a subjective quality. I find this joke aumsing to hear again, even amusing to tell again. (But I won't.)