The Old Daddy and the Supper Scene

Laughter lands where it may

The tall, slim older son became very demonstrative as he flailed his arms and stood up above everyone at the supper table.

"And then he walked into the restaurant saying, 'Look who's here. I'm here!'" the son said, putting on a buffoonish face and speaking in a loud, awkward voice, describing what his father was like when he entered the Indian restaurant that afternoon.

The old daddy shook his head. "I said, 'Here I am again. You are going to get tired of seeing me.'" But no one listened.

The son's girlfriend laughed at the old daddy, and so did his younger son and his wife. They all shook their heads at him. Then everyone continued to eat their supper.

The old daddy took a bite of his meal and went to grab his wife and son dessert.

As he walked to the refrigerator, the older son mimicked him and made loud noises with his mouth, as if the old daddy ate like a pig.

The girlfriend, typically shy and serious, burst out in a giant guffaw.

The younger son and wife bobbled their heads in laughter.

The old daddy stood up with the refrigerator door open as thoughts and feelings cascaded over him. He took a deep breath, dished out the desserts, and returned to his seat.

Calmly, he gazed at all of them and said with a smile, "As you get older, you don't worry as much about whether people are laughing at you or with you. You are just happy that they are laughing at all."

The older son looked at him indignantly and raised his eyebrows.

It had taken him a long time. But the old daddy had finally learned

A story by Pemba Umoja