I prefer the "a clown and a child" opening. I knew a guy that used "Hillary and a Haitian orphan"... once. He soon thereafter became intractably depressed.
Those are funnier in a sick way, which is great. I liked this one due to classic theme "one assassin turns on another to leave no witnesses."
All are good openings. It is a good finish to a joke and have a few ways to get there and that you can suit to your audience's taste/vibe.
You get a better response if you add yourself into the story. "so I was walking through the woods with a little girl..." You sometimes get interruptions right after using that line.
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