Laughter

Laughter fills the hallway, shrill little girl laughs. Mom laughs. Dad laughs. The girls do anything to make people laugh.

She dresses up in a dress too big, laughs at her appearance. Big shoes, a hat, too. "That Amanda," they say. "Always good for a laugh."

Sarah, the little laugher, races in. She wants the big dress, big shoes, big hat. She wants the laughs for herself. "Mom! Look at me!"

And mom laughs.

"Look how silly we are, Mom!" they say, with a laugh. The sisters do a little dance and sing a little song.

And mom laughs.

Laughing and playing, playing and laughing, continues till bedtime. The girls crawl into their beds, which face each other and whisper across the room in the dark. Laughter is silenced to quiet giggles.