Ficlets

It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]

“Come on, make me laugh.”

“No.”

“Make me laugh.”

“No.”

After a pause, Derrick repeated, “Make me laugh.”

Wendell sighed, “No. I’m off.”

“So. Make me laugh.”

A tired hand sliding over his face, smearing the grease paint, Wendell reiterated his position, “No. Go away.”

“Come on,” Derrick urged, poking his friend with a friendly finger of pestering, “Make me laugh.”

“No,” came the sullen response.

“Oh,” Derrick exclaimed, swiping the bright red, plastic nose, “Got your nose!”

“See, made yourself laugh. Now go away.”

Derrick sat back and pouted, “It’s not the same. You do it.” He tossed back the nose, which Wendell promptly pelted back at him.

“Take off.”

“Heh, that was a little funny, eh?”

“No.”

Then Derrick got a not-so-bright idea. Tossing the bag of long, skinny balloons Derrick tried, “Make me laugh. Here, use a balloon.”

Wendell used a balloon. But, it wasn’t funny. Derrick won’t talk about it, but he kind of shudders now when he sees balloons.

Comments

Average Reader Rating:

It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
thebetweenspace
Posted about 1 month ago

What an ending… What on earth did he do with that balloon. I love this and I think it was funny to me because all my life friends have cornered me and said ‘make me laugh’ or ‘do that impersonation’ and I can completely relate to Wendell. Although, I was never very talented with creative used of balloons. (Maybe that’s why I arbitrarily challenged the ficlets community to make me laugh). Well, 3 successes so far, who’s next?
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
thebetweenspace
Posted about 1 month ago

Loving the ptsd tag, as well. Really says a lot about that balloon.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
SKermitgorf
Posted about 1 month ago

Yikes my imagination runs wild on that ending! I love the badgering buddy.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Steve Fairweather
Posted about 1 month ago

What I think is great about this is that Wendell must have chosen to be a clown at some point. I mean, no parents pressure their kids into going to Clown College, right? With this in mind, he must have a whole bag full of quick gags that would satisfy his friend. Instead he chooses to make something that absolutely mortifies Derrick. Brilliant.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Ana Cristina
Posted about 1 month ago

It went in a totally different direction than I expected. I was completely annoyed with Derrick, but then I kinda felt bad for him at the end… ;-)
Stand-out line: Derrick won’t talk about it, but he kind of shudders now when he sees balloons.
LoA
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Saint Chuck
Posted about 1 month ago

Awesome ending. I never know what to expect from your stories, other than that I know better than to expect the expected. Great work.
LoA
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
THX 0477
Posted about 1 month ago

“I know better than to expect the expected.”

Sniff, one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about my writing. Gee, thanks. And thanks to everyone else who left such lovely comments as well.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Trann
Posted about 1 month ago

I laughed, eh?
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Ridcully Calvert
Posted about 1 month ago

A really great entry, it certainly made me laugh out loud.

LoA
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
White Hat
Posted about 1 month ago

Coulrophobia…
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
paper flowers
Posted about 1 month ago

Haha…funny! I love the ending…expect the unexpected indeed.
LoA
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Browncoatben
Posted about 1 month ago

What the hell happened with the balloon!? Great piece!
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
R.A. Porter
Posted about 1 month ago

Damn clowns. I can only imagine (thank you for not telling us) what that b**d did with that balloon. :)
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
PyroPunk 51 (PPP LoA)
Posted about 1 month ago

Maybe more like Globophobia
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Mask By The Moon
Posted about 1 month ago

one of two things is all that come to mind. And the first one was like “noooo ewww” but yeah, great story. Was funny. Keep it up Doctor.

(I think I’ll start calling you Doctor now because of my obsession with Doctor Who.)
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
invisibility_disability
Posted about 1 month ago

okay, i absolutely loved this story, #1 because it was hilarious, and #2 because i am a caulrophobic (no joke, i absolutely hate clowns.) so i sympathize with derrick… but still laugh at him all the same. :)
LoA
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
flute faerie
Posted about 1 month ago

lol, that was really funny. I wonder what he did with that balloon…
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
J.B. Williams
Posted about 1 month ago

Well, sounds like he had quite the experience with ballons that day. On an unrelated note, I tend to not like to piss off clowns.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Alexa ♥
Posted about 1 month ago

Balloons can lead to much trauma.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Bartimaeus
Posted about 1 month ago

lmao, i had the greatest image XD
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Louise Madison
Posted about 1 month ago

I am curious as to what in the name of Buddha he ddi with those balloons. I can only imagine…
Now I’m shuddering with Derrick.
It Wasn't Funny [Make Me Laugh Challenge]
Louise Madison
Posted about 1 month ago

I am curious as to what in the name of Buddha he ddi with those balloons. I can only imagine…
Now I’m shuddering with Derrick.