One day, The Funniest Man in the World was walking down the street. Everywhere he went, people laughed. The sun was shining. At a bus stop there was an old lady with curly hair, standing, her nylons white and runny. Next to her was a small child. They looked grim as only those waiting for a bus can. Our hero was not there to catch the bus, only walking past. Yet with a glance and a smile, the old lady and the small child burst out laughing.

He continued to the market, where he was greeted with laughter from the quiet Korean man behind the counter. The man bought a bag of ruffled potato chips and a pint of cola, which he carried home along the path he’d come.

The lady and child were gone, traveling on to their destinations. Our friend drew guffaws from a man in the elevator and a hearty chuckle from a prim woman in the hall. He opened the door to his apartment, found the remote for the already glowing television and sat down. Opening the potato chips, he began to cry. But even that was funny.