Jia Adam, Keep the Music Playing and the Dancing Going; Crazy Howard Speaks the Truth About True Beauty

TBBT 4A Apartment.

"It's too early to talk about that. Besides, even if Howard and I get married, I don't think I'd make him take my last name."

Bernadette turned sideways and stroked her boyfriend's face, saying indulgently.

"Thank you."

Howard felt a little strange, but he still thanked his girlfriend for standing up for him.

Finally, someone had spoken up for him about the whole not-being-a-doctor joke!

It hadn't been easy!

"But if I get a PhD and marry Howard someday, I wouldn't mind people calling him Mr. Rostenkowski, PhD."

Bernadette changed tack with a smile. "Even without changing his last name, they can still call him that."

"..."

Howard's mouth twitched.

Everyone in the apartment except Sheldon burst out laughing.

"That really would work."

Leonard nodded emphatically, laughing nonstop.

"Oh, that statement was still mocking Howard for not having a PhD."

Sheldon looked around at everyone, belatedly realizing what was going on. First, he flatly explained the joke without a shred of emotion, then he started laughing.

"..."

Everyone looked at Sheldon like that and no longer felt like laughing.

Some jokes could only be understood, not explained. Especially after Sheldon had given such an emotionless explanation, they became completely unfunny.

"What are you laughing at?"

Howard looked at Penny in dissatisfaction.

Everyone here could laugh at him, because they were either PhDs, doctors, or future PhDs. They were all doctors, except him.

The others had the right to laugh.

But Penny, a college dropout from a community college, dared laugh at him too?

"Why can't I laugh?"

Penny gave him a dangerous look. "Don't forget, if you ever get to be associated with a doctorate and earn the title Mr. Rostenkowski, PhD, it'll be thanks to my introduction. Are you sure you want to burn the bridge