There's Nothing I Love More Than the Authentic Laughter of Teenagers Who Crack Themselves Up, Even While Acting Impish

Yesterday, William and Jessica had kids work in new groups where they were to practice writing dialogue based on what they were learning about each other. Somehow, the four quietest boys in the core of 36 students ended up together and found they all have odd, if not sick senses of humor. From the very beginning of what they started to read, they got the giggles, and we learned why. In the middle of the script their basic conversations when morose.

A: How have you been?

B: Oh, Not so good.

C: Why do you say that?

B: My dog died.

A: Yeah? My cat has cancer.

C: Oh, this is sad news.

B: Yes, a dead dog is sad.

It was random and I think they just put onto page the words they knew, but they were enough to be sickly odd and made them laugh. They could not get through their script reminding me once again that water falls from the eyes under extreme pain or extreme laughter. Often they go hand in hand, especially as a coping mechanism. These were boys who never draw attention to themselves, but simply absorb instruction like sponges. No one in the room expected them to be silly, and when they dropped the lines, it was universal laughter. It came out of left field and shocked everyone, but in a good way...a sick, bonding way that is truly adolescent, human, and kind-of funny. 

I can never stop laughing when kids lose it and they're uncontrollable with the giggles. This is what happened and I found it to be precious. Yes, not so funny unless you're there, but witty none the less.

Hi, friend. How have you been? Oh, I have a dead dog now. You? Ai Ai Ai