Чужак в чужой стране

           "DoubtfullybutearnestlyJillstarteddiggingintohermemoryforjokesthathadstruckherasirresistiblyfunny,oneswhichhadjerkedalaughoutofher?incidentsshehadseenorheardofwhichhadmadeherhelplesswithlaughter:

           "-herentirebridgeclub."

           "ShouldIbow?"

           "Neitherone,youidiot–instead!"

           "-theChinamanobjects."

           "-brokeherleg."

           "-maketroubleforme!"

           "-butit’llspoiltherideforme."

           "-andhismother-in-lawfainted."

           "Stopyou?Why,Ibetthreetooneyoucoulddoit!"

           "-somethinghashappenedtoOle."

           "-andsoareyou,youclumsyox!"

           Shegaveupon"funny"stories,pointingouttoMikethatsuchwerejustfantasies,notreal,andtriedtorecallrealincidents.Practicaljokes?AllpracticaljokessupportedMike’sthesis,evenonesasmildasadribbleglass–andwhenitcametoaninterne’snotionofapracticaljoke–well,internesandmedicalstudentsshouldbekeptincages.Whatelse?ThetimeElsaMaehadlosthermonogrammedpanties?Ithadn’tbeenfunnytoElsaMae.Orthe-Shesaidgrimly,"Apparentlythepratfallisthepeakofallhumor.It’snotaprettypictureofthehumanrace,Mike."

           "Oh,butitis!"

           "Huh?"

           "Ihadthought–Ihadbeentold–thata‘funny’thingisathingofagoodness.Itisn’t.Noteverisitfunnytothepersonithappensto.Likethatsheriffwithouthispants.Thegoodnessisinthelaughingitself.Igrokitisabravery?andasharing?againstpainandsorrowanddefeat."