THE LAUGHING CHALLENGE

Today, for the umpteenth time, CBC radio played a rerun of THE SLEEPING CRICKET “I won’t listen,” I said to myself. “I have heard that piece so many times, I just know I won’t laugh, and I am busy. I haven’t the time not to laugh.” So I didn’t listen—well, I didn’t really listen, until I overheard the beginning of the part about the cricket. Then I decided to listen because I felt certain that, having heard it so many times, I wouldn’t laugh. Not laughing wouldn't be much of a challenge. I was up for a small challenge. And now that I have listened again, for the umpteenth-plus-1 time, there’s only one thing I can say for sure: I don’t know how many times I’ll have to hear that program before I can listen without laughing.