How Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg Got Its Name (Not Really)
A tiny cabin sat beside a beautiful lake where a little girl lived with her mom and dad. She was only two years old and thought crayons were food.
The lake, however, had a serious problem.
It didn’t have a name.
Her dad stood on the porch with his hands on his hips. “This lake has been nameless for a whole year.”
Her mom nodded. “Even the fish are starting to complain.”
“We should fix that.”
“I agree.”
Her dad looked up and said, “Bob!!!”
Her mom stared at him.
“You want to name the entire lake…” she said slowly, “…and your best idea was Bob?”
“It’s easy to spell.”
Before she could answer, their daughter slapped both hands on the table.
“BAAAAH!”
Her dad pointed to her. “See? She agrees!”
The little girl frowned. “I no likey.”
Her mom smirked. “Even toddlers have standards for naming the lake.”
The little girl wrapped herself in a blanket like a burrito. She lifted one tiny finger into the air and announced, “Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.”
Silence.
A bird flying overhead stopped flapping for a second.
Her mom blinked.
“…Did she just unlock a secret language?”
Her dad shrugged.
“I thought she was asking for applesauce.”
Just then…
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…
A tiny airplane buzzed over the cabin.
Behind it fluttered an enormous banner.
CHARGOGGAGOGGMANCHAUGGAGOGGCHAUBUNAGUNGAMAUGG
Nobody spoke.
Even the squirrels looked up.
Her dad slowly took off his glasses.
“I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
Her mom squinted at the sky.
“Maybe it’s an advertisement.”
“For what?”
“…Really long words?”
The little girl pointed at the plane so hard she nearly fell over.
“I WANTY DAT!”
The plane suddenly dipped one wing…
…as if waving back.
Her mom gasped. “The airplane heard her!”
Her dad grabbed the curtains and closed it.
“This is very weird.”
The plane circled the lake once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then, as mysteriously as it had appeared, it flew away.
The family stood in complete silence.
Finally, her mom sighed. “Well…
“I guess we have to name the lake now.”
Her dad nodded. “I mean, I don’t make the rules.”
“What rules?”
“The airplane rules.”
“Oh.”
“Fair enough.”
And that is how Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg got its name.
… According to the airplane.