Not A Complete Squarepants

(My father gets an invitation to do a special speech related to pesticides at a college. He’s always been a man that looks serious and no-nonsensical, so he decides to do something to help the students relax.)

Dad: *in a really serious tone* “In a moment we’ll be starting the presentation, so I hope you are all paying attention.”

(The presentation starts and, to everyone’s surprise, the first slide is a picture of a pirate that people immediately recognize as the one at the start of the cartoon Spongebob Squarepants.)

Dad: *in a pirate tone* “Are ya ready, kids?”

Students: *surprised, but amused* “Aye aye, Captain!”

Dad: “I can’t heeear youuuu!”

Students: *most of them laughing by now* “Aye aye, Captain!”

(It was a silly strategy, but it seems it worked, since the students relaxed and the presentation was a success.)