The Seven Dwarfs

A meeting was held at the Disney studios once upon a time. Walt had been impatiently awaiting his twenty-two writers, who've spent months developing major characters for his new film and are now taking their time on minor characters. He assembles the writers to hurry them along.

"How's it going?"

The writers' spokesman smiles. "We're making progress," he says. "we've divided ourselves into committees."

Walt shakes his head. "And?"

The woman in charge of Committee One speaks up. "Well, we think we've almost got ours," she says. She sees the boss nodding for her to continue. "He's very, very intelligent and sober. When the other don't understand something, they always look to him. He knows all the answers, because he's learned and authoritative. He's kind of like a doctor and we're toying with the idea..."

Walt scribbles one word on his 3x5 card: "Doc."

Committee Two reports that they've named their character Trimalchio. "He's dumb, constantly making silly remarks, falling all over himself."

Walt scribbles "Dopey."

And so one. No one will remember Grimalchio and Trimalchio, but no one can forget Doc and Dopey, Grumpy and Happy, any more than we forget Santa's reindeer or the Three Bears.