The Joke

by Ari Collins


"So the duck says, 'Got any grapes?'"

Delia laughed at my joke, that tiny, tinkly, perfect laugh that came so easily.

Patrick swaggered over to her workstation. "Hey, Delia, how am I hanging, girl?"

And she laughed as I'd never heard before, an abrupt hacking roar that buried the last few minutes. Her real laugh.