Dogs Don't Tell Jokes (Someday Angeline 2)

Yaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!”

“I don’t think he’s goin’ insane,” Fred whispered. “I think he already is insane.”

The song had several more verses. After a while the audience stopped clapping along, but Joe continued to rap out the words.

“There’s a book I read, by a dude who’s dead,

I can’t remember his name.

It’s about a girl who lost her pearl,

and they all say I’m to blame.

Oscar! Grover! Big Bird! Ernie!

It sure has been a long hard journey!

Goin’ insane. Goin’ insane.

Has anybody? Has anybody?

Has anybody seen my brain?”

“Yeah, I think it’s in a jar at the Smithsonian,” whispered Fred.

“Goin’ insane. Goin’ insane.

Has anybody? Has anybody?

Has anybody seen my brain?

Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Everyone waited to make sure it was over, and then clapped.

Joe smiled and took off his sunglasses.

“Radical,” said Matt as Joe sat down next to him.

“Awesome,” said Julie Rose.

“Have you tried looking under the bed?” asked Fred Furst.

Gary took another breath. He tried to focus on his own act, how he was going to begin, his exact words, but he couldn’t concentrate. It felt like his brain was bouncing around inside his head.

“Brenda Thompson,” announced Miss Langley.

Brenda approached the microphone.

“Brenda is the student council secretary. She was the one who came up with the idea of having this talent show.”

The audience applauded.

“What made you think of a talent show, Brenda?”

“Well, people are always putting down the younger generation. Saying we’re all on drugs or something. I just wanted to show the kind of talent and spirit we have here at Floyd Hicks Junior High!”

There was more applause.