I don't really know where it comes from, but it comes out often. It takes on any form and I never know before hand which laughter is going to come out - the snort giggle, the donkey heeh-haw or the Very Loud Belly Laugh. I enjoy laughing, but am rather selfconscious about it. See, I never know how people are going to react to it. Some find it bubbly and begin to laugh along with me, some tell me to keep it down.

It seems my family, especially, have a problem with my laughter. For some reason they think I'm exagerating it if I'm letting myself enjoy something fully and am often told to "tone it down" because it sounds "fake". I don't get it, though - why would anybody fake their laughter?

My brother has a real problem with it. If we're watching something together there's a (nowadays) unspoken rule: I must keep my laugh down or simply get out of the room. I used to protest a lot and then try and silence myself, but nowadays I just say "whatever" and leave.

The funny thing is, sometimes I catch my brother laughing, and it sounds remarkably like me.

Ever since I slipped and fell forward and hit my knees on asphalt two days in a row my right knee has had a noise. It's only audible when I walk in stairs, especially upstairs, but then it's surprisingly loud. It's a bit like a small dry twig snaps every step I take. It always makes me giggle when I'm alone walking up stairs in a space with a lot of echo, which in turn will drown the snap out, but even if I can't hear it, I can feel it.

It squeaks. It raises. It whispers. It sings, but never very well. It breaks. It draws attention. It's too loud. It's heard a lot. It's not very pretty. It functions well. It's never scratchy. It's rather deep. It shuts up sometimes. I don't mind. I quite like it.

sleep well.