Why was the Egyptian kid confused?

This joke wraps up its humor in a clever piece of wordplay. The setup guides your mind straight to the dusty tombs and ancient rituals of Egypt, where the word "mummy" instantly brings to mind those elaborately preserved bodies. The punchline, however, pulls a fast one, switching gears to the much more common, albeit slightly British, meaning of "mummy" as a term for one's mother. The confusion for the poor Egyptian child isn't about reanimated corpses, but rather the delightful absurdity of having a father who is also, apparently, his mother.

The brilliance here lies in the double entendre. Ancient Egypt is, of course, famous for its elaborate mummification process, preparing the deceased for the afterlife with great care. These preserved remains are what we typically associate with the word "mummy" in a historical context. But then there's the other "mummy"—the person who gave birth to you! The clash of these two very different meanings, both perfectly valid uses of the same word, creates a wonderfully silly image and the core of what makes this gag work. It's a quick, unexpected twist that relies on your brain making the historical connection before being playfully tripped up by the domestic one.