Laughing Aloud

“Shhh,” he said. “Here it is, but when he finds out?”

“Snnuugh Rubububububua,” “They both laughed; he handed her the clothespin, his eyes sunken in but his face smiling.

“I hear him from everywhere: I’m sure this will do it,” he said. Then giggled.

“Quietly and with finesse, she stood, his snoring like an orchestra’s brass section of out-of-tune.”

Clothespin in her hand: her brother directing from Mother's hospital bed in the living room.

Auntie said, “Make him laugh as much as you can daily—illness struck him.

We laughed the same as always. Remembering how mom did it. 

Lily Finch