It started with a tickle. Vern had stolen all the covers again. When I touched his arm he jerked awake and began to giggle. The laughter bubbled out of him. I turned on my bedside light and just stared. After a few minutes his laughter quieted and he began to snore. Well I was up the rest of the night.

Over breakfast Vern said he didn’t know what I was going on about. But I know I’m not crazy. A day or two later we were watching Law & Order and Vern began to guffaw. Tears rolled down his cheeks. I was besides myself. Then he stopped laughing and looked around surprised. Vern told me he remembered something funny from the day before. Vern told me I’d better drop it.

Of course I called my sister Pearl because she worked in a hospital for years. Vern told me not to fuss. Pearl told me about this lady from her church whose cousin did the same thing right before he died. I called Dr. Shaw immediately and made his girl give us an appointment the very next day.

Vern and I argued half the night and into the next morning but we went to the doctor. Vern was a fuss bucket but the nurse doctor gave him a physical. She was very nice but I couldn’t understand all she said but what I did understand scared me. The words emotional incontinence stuck out in my memory. Vern was polite to the lady but I could tell his back was up. Vern and I drove home in silence.

Apparently this is all my fault. Vern said poking my chest with his finger to accent each word that he was not getting additional tests because he was fine. Vern started sleeping on the sofa. We lived in silence. I made the meals. Vern moved the lawn. He read the paper while I knit booties for Cheri’s new baby.

Late at night I can hear his laughter. Howling laughter rattles around our house. During the day, Vern will cover his face with both hands as laughs spurt between his fingers. Sometimes I catch his toothy smile out of the corner of my eye and I shiver in spite of myself.

I called Cheri and begged off her next visit telling her dad was not himself. I can hear the laughter on the stairs. I told Cheri not to worry and to focus on taking care of her babies. Laughter is pelting my left shoulder. I reassured my baby girl that everything was fine and we would see her soon. Loud barks of laughter swamped our master bedroom. I steeled myself for the argument to come.