Чужак в чужой стране

           Therecertainlywasn’tanythingfunny."

           "Jill,Jillmydarling!ToomuchMartianhasrubbedoffonYOU.Ofcourseitwasn’tfunny–itwastragic.That’swhyIhadtolaugh.IlookedatacagefulofmonkeysandsuddenlyIsawallthemeanandcruelandutterlyunexplainablethingsI’veseenandheardandreadaboutinthetimeI’vebeenwithmyownpeopleandsuddenlyithurtsomuchIfoundmyselflaughing."

           "But-Mikedear,laughingissomethingyoudowhensomethingisnice?notwhenit’shorrid."

           "Isit?ThinkbacktoLasVegas–Whenallyouprettygirlscameoutonthestage,didpeoplelaugh?"

           "Well?no."

           "Butyougirlswerethenicestpartoftheshow.Igroknow,thatiftheyhadlaughed,youwouldhavebeenhurt.No,theylaughedwhenacomictrippedoverhisfeetandfelldown?orsomethingelsethatisnotagoodness."

           "Butthat’snotallpeoplelaughat."

           "Isn’tit?PerhapsIdon’tgrokallitsfullnessyet.Butfindmesomethingthatreallymakesyoulaugh,sweetheart?ajoke,oranythingelse–butsomethingthatgaveyouarealbellylaugh,notasmile.Thenwe’llseeifthereisn’tawrongnessinitsomewhereandwhetheryouwouldlaughifthewrongnesswasn’tthere."Hethought."Igrokwhenapeslearntolaugh,they’llbepeople."

           "Maybe.