Mastering the Polite Chuckle

Laughter on the ceiling, with Uncle Albert, is bumping up against bedtime.

F: Please, Daddy! I love…
C: Daddy, just a couple more…
F: …this part!
C: …minutes!
D: Okay, guys, but after this scene, it’s off to bed, lickety-split.

They break out into big laughs at various parts: what’s the name of his other leg, when Mary gives in and joins them up in the air to pour out, how are you at catching mice? Big laughs, especially Fisher, his hysteria over the top. When Mary brings Jane and Michael down and then heads back out, Daddy packs Cory and Fisher off to bed.

C: That’s sad when they have to come down.
D: A little bit. But that’s what makes bouts of laughter so fun. There are breaks in between. If you just laughed like that all the time, it wouldn’t be special.
F: They are being so funny, right?
D: Yep, they certainly think so.
F: I think so, too. (Pause.) Are they saying jokes to each other, Daddy?
D (staring at him): Yes, Fisher. That’s why they are laughing.
F: Oh. And those jokes are really funny, right?
D: Right. Fisher, you were laughing at those jokes, too.
F: I know that already.
D: Well, why were you laughing?
F: Um…because…
D: Because why?
F: Um…because those people are so funny. And they are laughing so super much. I like that part a lot, Daddy. Do you like that part?
D: Cory, can you close the door all the way? Yes, Fisher, I like that part a lot, too.

Cory’s closer to mastering the vague, supposed-to laugh, but Fisher will need to bring bent-over guffaw down to unremarkable chuckle before he’s ready to navigate an office lunch.

Fisher Goofy Face

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