Bathroom Commode

Shady Abuyusuf

Thu, 13 Nov 2025

737

Joke:

An old-fashioned lady wrote a letter to a campground to ask about the facilities before booking a camping spot. She didn't quite know how to ask if there were bathrooms on-site or if they had to use the ones in their RV, nor could she bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter.

After much deliberation, she wrote down bathroom commode, then thought she was still being too direct for a polite letter, so she simply wrote, "Does the campground have its own BC?"

The campground owner simply couldn't figure out what the woman was talking about. The BC reference really stumped him. Hoping someone else would know, he showed the letter to several campers, but they were just as confused, although one woman commented that she might be referring to the Baptist Church just up the road since it was holding a number of summer activities. Since that was his only lead, he sat down and wrote the following reply:

Dear Madam,

I am pleased to inform you that a BC is located nine miles north of the campground and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away, if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive early and stay late. It's such a beautiful facility, and the acoustics are marvelous.

Even the normal delivery sounds can be heard. The last time my wife and I went, it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that a supper is planned to raise money to buy more seats. If you do decide to come down to our campground, there are a few people here who would be delighted to go with you the first time, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks. Remember, this is a friendly community.

Sincerely,

(Campground Owner)

Vocabulary Items:

1. Campground
• Meaning: A place used for camping, typically equipped with facilities like restrooms and showers.
• Pronunciation: /ˈkæmpɡraʊnd/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "An old-fashioned lady wrote a letter to a campground to ask about the facilities before booking a camping spot."
• Example Sentence: We reserved a spot at the campground for the weekend.
2. Facilities
• Meaning: Buildings, equipment, or services provided for a particular purpose.
• Pronunciation: /fəˈsɪlɪtiz/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "An old-fashioned lady wrote a letter to a campground to ask about the facilities before booking a camping spot."
• Example Sentence: The park offers excellent facilities, including restrooms and picnic areas.
3. RV
• Meaning: Recreational vehicle, a motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities.
• Pronunciation: /ɑːr viː/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "She didn't quite know how to ask if there were bathrooms on-site or if they had to use the ones in their RV."
• Example Sentence: They traveled across the country in their RV.
4. Deliberation
• Meaning: Long and careful consideration or discussion.
• Pronunciation: /dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "After much deliberation, she wrote down bathroom commode..."
• Example Sentence: After much deliberation, they decided to purchase the house.
5. Bathroom commode
• Meaning: A polite or old-fashioned term for a toilet.
• Pronunciation: /ˈbæθruːm kəˈmoʊd/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "After much deliberation, she wrote down bathroom commode..."
• Example Sentence: The bathroom commode was newly installed.
6. Figure out
• Meaning: To understand or solve something.
• Pronunciation: /ˈfɪɡjər aʊt/
• Form: Phrasal verb.
• Usage: "The campground owner simply couldn't figure out what the woman was talking about."
• Example Sentence: She tried to figure out the answer to the puzzle.
7. Stump
• Meaning: To be unable to answer or solve a question or problem.
• Pronunciation: /stʌmp/
• Form: Verb.
• Usage: "The BC reference really stumped him."
• Example Sentence: The complex question stumped the students.
8. Lead
• Meaning: A piece of information that helps to direct or guide; a clue.
• Pronunciation: /liːd/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "Since that was his only lead, he sat down and wrote the following reply."
• Example Sentence: The detective followed a new lead in the case.
9. Acoustics
• Meaning: The properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted.
• Pronunciation: /əˈkuːstɪks/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "It's such a beautiful facility, and the acoustics are marvelous."
• Example Sentence: The acoustics in the concert hall were exceptional.
10. Folks
• Meaning: People in general; used informally to refer to a group of people.
• Pronunciation: /foʊks/
• Form: Noun.
• Usage: "There are a few people here who would be delighted to go with you the first time, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks."
• Example Sentence: The folks at the community centre are very friendly.