“We’ll laugh at every one of your jokes,” she explained.
“What if they’re not funny?” asked Gary.
“We’ll laugh anyway,” said Melissa. “Comedians always have friends in the audience to laugh at their jokes. In fact, some comedians actually pay people money to sit in the audience and laugh.”
“Isn’t that cheating?” Angeline asked.
“No,” said Abel. “Sometimes people feel weird about laughing. They have to wait until they hear somebody else laugh, before they think it’s okay to laugh. So you get a few people in the audience to laugh every time you tell a joke, and then pretty soon the whole audience is laughing.”
Gus burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asked Angeline.
“Nothing. Just practicing.”
They all practiced their laughs, from mild titters to loud roars. They hooted and howled, wiped their eyes and slapped their knees. Angeline joined in too, even though she wouldn’t get to be a part of it.
“I just have one question,” said Gus.
“What?” asked Abel.
“How do we know when Gary’s told a joke?”
Gary looked up at the sky.
Melissa punched Gus’s arm.
“Dog ears!” exclaimed Angeline. “I wish I could be there!”
“I’m sorry, Angelini,” said her father. “But the only other flight is in the morning. You’d miss a day of school. And they’d have to make a special trip to take you to the airport.”
“Gary’s comedy debut is a lot more important than a day of school!”
“Your government sponsors don’t quite see it that way,” Abel said. “And they’re the ones paying for your education. And airfare.”
“Dog ears!” griped Angeline.
“I’ll be coming right from the talent show to the airport,” said her father. “I’ll be able to tell you all about it.”
Angeline scowled. Then her eyes lit up. “I know,” she said. “You and Mr. Bone can get married! They’d
have to let me come home for my father’s wedding.”
Both Abel and Melissa turned red. Each muttered something incomprehensible.
“That’s a great idea!” said Gus, slapping Abel on the back.
“Uh, dub, urn,” said Abel. He cleared his throat.
“I have a more practical idea,” said Melissa. “I can borrow my school’s video camera. I’ll videotape Gary’s act for you, Angeline.”
“But if you’re laughing at Gary’s jokes, you won’t be able to operate the video camera,” said Angeline.
“I’ll bring one of my students to operate it. They’re better at it than me anyway.” She turned to Gary. “You don’t mind being videotaped, do you?”
Gary shrugged. “Sure, no problem,” he said.
He could see it now: Goon—The Video!