Page 64 of The Laughing Game

“Oh, please. That’stotallywhat you pay me for,” he said, giving Sebastian a look.

Sebastian shrugged. “Why don’t you tell us a dirty joke? Or do that routine you’ve been practicing.”

“Oh! Yes, well, it’s not quite ready yet. But I can tell some jokes. Why not? Let’s see…”

“Oh, boy, here we go,” Vihaal said, sitting back and crossing his arms, gazing at Robin with mild amusement.

“Oh, you love it, V,” Gideon said, adjusting his chair so he had a good view of the stage. “And he’s so fucking cute! Maybe we could make it four tonight.”

Vihaal’s head spun around and he gave Gideon a look.

Gideon laughed and put a hand over his mouth.

I couldn’t help grinning.

Robin crooked his head and put a finger to his chin.

“Ah, okay, I’ve got one. What’s the difference between purple and pink?”

He waited while we all thought about it. Nobody answered.

“Thegrip.”

Laughter and groans.

“Oh, you love it, you dirty fucking bastards. Here’s another. What do Life Savers candies do that men cannot?”

Nobody knew.

“Come in five different flavors,” Robin said, licking the tip of his finger and lifting it in the air.

“Ba dump, dump,” someone said.

“I can come in different flavors!” a man yelled out.

“No you can’t, you idiot,” another man grumbled.

“But the pineapple!”

“Didn’t make your spunk taste any different.”

“You literally said it was sweeter!”

“Didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“Well, you’re disappointing me now.”

I snickered to myself as Gideon howled and even Vihaal smiled.

“Keep it down in the gallery,” Robin piped, shielding his eyes and blinking at the audience. “You want one more?”

“That’s what he said!” someone yelled.

“Oh, so funny. My, my, my, we are chipper tonight. All right, let’s see.” He rested his chin on his arm and scratched his cheek. “Why isn’t there a pregnant Barbie doll?” He frowned. “Wait,isthere a pregnant Barbie doll?”

Men muttered back and forth.

“Oh, whatever. Why isn’t there a pregnant Barbie doll?” Robin repeated, glancing around.

---