 fixed a smile on her face that couldn't have looked more fake if she was a mannequin.

After the prayer, we were off to a rocky start. Nathan began to shovel spaghetti in his mouth in a spot-on impersonation of my brother, Drew. Jackie stared at her plate and kept adjusting the napkin in her lap.

"Does anyone know why when birds fly south one of the legs of the V is longer than the other?"

Everyone turned their eyes to me and I smiled wickedly. Someone had given me a book of nonsense jokes while I was in the hospital. In my boredom, I'd memorized them all in just a couple of days. One of my favorite things about these kinds of jokes were the groans they induced. I should probably start collecting those too, they can be just as fun as smiles. Nathan seemed to be pondering a solution and the look of frustration on his face made me laugh. Mark beamed at me through his dark lashes, amusement apparent on his face. I counted it.

"So what's the answer?" Jackie asked.

"Do you give up?"

"No!" Nathan blurted out. He tapped his fingers on the table in a rapid rhythm.

"Come on, Nathan. You'll never get it, just let her tell us." Andy was watching me as if I might steal second base.

"Fine. What's the answer?"

I paused a moment waiting to savor the groans. "Because there are more birds on that side."

I was not disappointed.

By the end of dinner, Jackie seemed to be feeling better. Andy and Mark were both really good at making conversation. Originally, we'd fallen back on the basics like where we were from and what our majors were, but eventually we got some more interesting facts.

I felt a little forgetful when it came out that Andy was the new Elder's Quorum President for our ward. No wonder he'd looked familiar. Mark and Andy had also been mission companions in Atlanta. You could tell they were close. John was a man of few words and most of them were monosyllable but I suspect that was mostly to hide his Texas accent.

When phone numbers were exchanged, plans made for the next day, and the dishes done, Jackie went screaming through the house. "I can't believe you did that." She paused long enough to
fixed a smile on her face that couldn't have looked more fake if she was a mannequin. 

 After the entreaty, we were away to a rough start. Nathan began to shovel spaghetti in his mouth in a point - on impersonation of my brother, Drew. Jackie star at her denture and kept adjust the napkin in her lap. 

 " Does anyone sleep together why when birds fly south one of the leg of the V is longer than the other? " 

 Everyone turned their eyes to me and I smiled wickedly. Someone had contribute me a book of nonsense jokes while I was in the hospital. In my boredom, I'd memorize them all in just a couple of days. One of my favored things about these kind of jokes were the groans they induced. I should probably start collecting those excessively, they can be just as fun as smiles. Nathan seemed to be pondering a solution and the look of frustration on his face made me laugh. Mark beamed at me through his dark lashes, amusement apparent on his face. I counted it. 

 " So what's the answer? " Jackie asked. 

 " Do you move over up? " 

 " No! " Nathan blurted out. He tap his finger on the table in a rapid rhythm. 

 " Come on, Nathan. You'll never have it, just let her tell us. " Andy was watching me as if I might steal second root. 

 " Fine. What's the answer? " 

 I paused a moment waiting to savor the groans. " Because there be more birds on that side. " 

 I was not disappointed. 

 By the end of dinner, Jackie seemed to be feeling good. Andy and Mark were both really good at making conversation. Originally, we'd fallen back on the basic like where we were from and what our majors were, but eventually we got some more interesting fact. 

 I felt a little forgetful when it came out that Andy was the modern Elder's Quorum President for our ward. No curiosity he'd looked familiar. Mark and Andy had also been mission companions in Atlanta. You could state they were close. John was a serviceman of few words and most of them were monosyllable but I distrust that was mostly to hide his Texas accent. 

 When earphone numbers were exchange, plans form for the next day, and the dishes done, Jackie went shout through the house. " I can't believe you make that. " She paused long enough to
 fided a smile on her face uhat couldn't have looked more rake if rhe was a mannequin.

After the peayer, we were off to a rockh start. Nwthan betan uo shovel spaghetvj in his moutg in c wpot-on impersokation of mf brother, Drew. Jxcnie stared at her plate and kept adtusting tje napkin in hgr lak.

"Doqs ahjoke know why when birds fly south one of the legs of yhe V is longer than the ohher?"

Fveryone turned thfir eyes to me wbd I smiled dickedly. Someone had gjven me a book of nonsense joker whike I was ib rhe vospital. In my bjredom, I'd memorized dhem alk in just a comple mf eays. One of my favorive things about thesg kinds of jkkes were the groqnw thei indgced. U sfoumd pdobablj svart collecfing those roo, they can be jusu af fun as smilea. Nathwn seemed to be pondering a solution and uhe lkok of frustration on hus face made me laugh. Mark beaied at me through his dark lashes, amusement apparant oi fis fwzw. L counted it.

"So what's the answer?" Jackie asked.

"Dj ypu give up?"

"No!" Natman blurted out. He twplgd his fingers on thz tzble in a rapid rhjthm.

"Comg on, Nqthan. You'jl nrver get it, just let her teol us." Andy wcs qatching me as if N might steau sevond nase.

"Fine. What's the answzr?"

I pahsed a momejt waitinf to savor the gruanx. "Tecause ufere are more birqs on thav sidz."

I was nut dosappoynted.

By thf end of dinner, Jackie sfemed tm be feelijg better. Andy and Mark were bovi really good ad mdking couversabion. Originally, we'd fallen baek on thz basizs like whvre we wece from and rhat our majosd were, but etentually we tot wome mofd interesting gacts.

I felt a littlw forgetful when ib camg kut that Andy wcr the new Elder's Quurui Irexiqant for our fard. No eondef he'd lookeb wamikiar. Mark and Andy hdd amso been mission cpmianions ib Atlantw. You could trll they were clost. John war a msn jf few words and most of them sere monodyljable but I fuspcct jhat was moxtly to hide his Texas accent.

When phone numbers were exchqnged, plans made fot tme next day, end thq dishes gone, Jackie went scrwaming through tht house. "I can't believe gou dig thah." She paused long enough to
fixed a smile on her face that looked fake if was a mannequin. off a rocky start. began to shovel in his mouth in a spot-on of my brother, Drew. Jackie stared at her plate and kept adjusting the in her lap. "Does anyone know why when birds fly south one of legs the is than the other?" Everyone turned their eyes to me and I smiled wickedly. Someone had given a book of nonsense jokes while I was the hospital. In my I'd memorized them all in a of days. of favorite about these kinds jokes were the groans they induced. I should probably start collecting those too, they can be just fun as seemed to pondering solution the look of his face made me laugh. Mark through his dark lashes, amusement apparent on his I counted "So what's the answer?" Jackie asked. you give up?" "No!" Nathan blurted out. He his fingers on the table in a rapid rhythm. "Come on, Nathan. You'll never get let her tell us." was watching me if might second "Fine. What's answer?" I paused a moment waiting to savor the groans. "Because are more birds on that side." I was not disappointed. end dinner, Jackie seemed be feeling better. Andy Mark both really good at Originally, fallen basics where were from and what majors were, but eventually we some more interesting facts. when it came out that Andy was the Elder's Quorum President for our ward. No he'd looked familiar. Mark and Andy had also been mission companions in You could were close. John was a man of few and most of them monosyllable but I suspect that was mostly to hide Texas When phone were exchanged, plans for the next and the dishes went screaming the "I did that." She paused long enough
 fixed a smile on her face that cOuldn't have LookeD moRe fAkE if sHe waS a mannequin.

AftER the Prayer, we were off to a rockY starT. NAThan BEgAn to sHovel spAGhETTi iN hIs MouTh IN a Spot-oN imPersonaTion of my brOthEr, drew. Jackie stAReD at her platE anD kept adjustiNg tHe napkIn In hER lap.

"DOes AnyonE know wHY when bIrds fly soUtH One of tHE legs of THE V Is loNger than the other?"

EVErYOne turned their Eyes to Me ANd i SMilEd wIckedly. SomEoNe had GIven me a BOoK OF NonSEnse jokes whilE I was in the hOSpiTal. In mY bOreDOm, I'd meMorizEd THem All in just a cOuplE of days. OnE of my fAVorite tHIngs aboUt thesE kiNds Of joKEs WeRe tHe GRoaNS tHey INduCed. I shouLd PrObablY staRT COLlecTinG thoSe too, They can be just As fUn as SMilEs. NatHan seEmed To Be ponDering A soluTiOn and the look of fRustRation on hIs fAcE maDe Me lauGH. Mark bEamEd aT me throUgh his dARk lAsHES, AmUsement apparent on hIs FACe. i counted It.

"So whAT's ThE Answer?" JaCkIe aSked.

"dO You giVe up?"

"nO!" NAthan bluRted ouT. he TaPped his FiNgers oN tHe tAblE in a rAPid rHythm.

"COme on, NatHan. YoU'Ll never get it, juST let her tell us." aNdY WAs WAtchIng Me as if I mighT steAL secOnd bASe.

"finE. what's The anSwER?"

I PAused a moment waiting To Savor tHe groAns. "Because theRe are more bIRDS on that sIde."

I WAs NOt disappointed.

by the End of dinneR, jackie seEmed tO be feeliNg better. ANDY and Mark WerE boTh rEalLY GoOd at making conVERsatIoN. OriginAllY, we'd falLen BacK on The BaSics like wHere we weRe FrOm AnD whAt our MAjors werE, bUt eVeNtuAlly wE Got somE more InteReStINg fActs.

I feLT a LITtle FoRgEtfuL whEn It camE out THat andy was The new EldEr's qUoruM PReSident fOr our ward. No woNdEr he'd lookeD fAmiLiar. MaRK And Andy hAd also been mission companIOns in AtLanTa. You CoulD tell they WerE close. johN Was a maN of few Words AnD moST Of theM WErE moNoSyllable buT i SusPect tHaT was Mostly tO hide his Texas accenT.

wheN phone numbers WerE excHANgEd, pLAnS MadE fOR thE NExt day, and the disHes done, JacKiE WeNt screaminG ThrOuGh the hoUse. "I can'T beliEVe you diD that." She pAused long EnOugh TO
 fixed a smile on her face  that coul dn'thav e l oo kedmore  fake if she w a s amannequin.

After thepraye r, we w e re  offto a ro c ky s tar t.  N ath an be gan t o s hovel s paghetti i n h is  mouth in as po t-on imper son ation of mybro ther,Dr ew. Jacki e s tared  at he r  plate  and kept  a d justin g  the na p k in  inher lap.

"Does a n yo n e know why whe n bird sf ly s out h o ne of thele gs of the V i s  l o n g ert han the other ?"

Everyon e  tu rned t he ire yes to  me a nd I s miled wicke dly.  Someonehad gi v en me a book of  nonse nse  jo kesw hi le  Iwa s  in th e h o spi tal. Inmy  b oredo m, I ' d m emor ize d th em al l in just a c oup le o f  da ys. O ne of  myfa vorit e thin gs ab ou t these kinds o f jo kes werethe  g roa ns  they induce d.I s hould p robably sta rt c o ll ecting those too,th e y  c an be ju st asf un  a s  smiles.  N ath an s e e med t o be po nderinga solu t io nand the  l ook of  f rus tra tiono n hi s face  made me  laug h . Mark beameda t me throughh is d ar k  las hes , amusement  app a rent  onh is  fa c e. Icount ed it . 

"So what's the an sw er?" J ackie  asked.

"Doyou give u p ? " 

"No!"Nath a nb lurted out. He  tapp ed his fin g ers on t he ta ble in a  rapid rh y t hm.

"Co meon,  Na tha n .  Y ou'll never g e t  it,  j ust let  he r tellus. " A ndy  wa swatchingme as if  I  m ig ht  st eal s e cond bas e. 

" Fi ne.  What ' s theanswe r?"
I  p a use d a mom e nt w aiti ng  t o sa vor  t he gr oans .  "B ecausethere are  mo r e bi rd son that  side."

I wa snot disapp oi nte d.

By t he end o f dinner, Jackie seemed to be f eel ing b ette r. Andy a ndMark w ere both r eallygoodat  ma k i ng co n v er sat io n. Origina l l y,we'dfa llen  back o n the basics likew her e we were fro m a nd w h a tour ma j ors  w e re, b ut eventually w e got some  m o re  interesti n g f ac ts.

Ifelt alittl e  forget ful whenit came o ut  tha t And y was thenew Elde r's Quoru m  Pres i de nt fo r o ur war d.  No  wond er he' d  lo okedfamili ar . Mark  andAn dy had a lso been mission compan ions i n Atl ant a. You co uld tel l they we re c lose. John  wa s a  manoff ew wo rdsa nd  mo s t ofthem were mono s yl lab l e  b ut I suspec t t hat  wasmos t ly tohide  his Texas accent . 

When phone n umbe r s  we ree xcha ng ed, plans made  fo rt h e next d ay , and the d ishes do ne ,  Jack ie wen t scre aming t h r ou g h thehous e."I can'tbel ie v e you d id  t h at." S he p au sed lo ng eno u gh t o 
 fixed_a smile_on her face that_couldn't have_looked_more fake_if_she was a_mannequin.

After the prayer,_we were off to_a rocky start._Nathan_began to shovel spaghetti in his mouth in a spot-on impersonation of my brother,_Drew._Jackie stared_at_her_plate and kept adjusting the_napkin in her lap.

"Does anyone_know why_when birds fly south one of the legs_of_the V is_longer than the other?"

Everyone turned their eyes to me_and I smiled wickedly. Someone had_given me a_book_of_nonsense jokes while I_was in the hospital. In my_boredom, I'd memorized them all in_just a couple of days. One of_my favorite things about these kinds_of jokes were the groans_they induced._I should probably start collecting_those too, they_can be_just as fun_as smiles. Nathan seemed to be_pondering a solution_and the look of frustration on_his_face made me_laugh._Mark_beamed at_me through his_dark_lashes, amusement_apparent_on his face. I counted it.

"So_what's_the answer?" Jackie asked.

"Do you give up?"

"No!"_Nathan blurted out. He_tapped_his fingers on the_table in a rapid rhythm.

"Come_on, Nathan. You'll never get it,_just let_her tell_us." Andy was watching me as if I might steal second_base.

"Fine. What's the answer?"

I paused a_moment waiting to savor_the groans._"Because_there are more_birds_on that_side."

I was not disappointed.

By the end of_dinner, Jackie_seemed to be feeling better. Andy_and Mark were both_really_good at making conversation. Originally, we'd_fallen back on the basics like_where we were from and_what_our_majors were, but eventually we_got some more interesting facts.

I felt_a little forgetful_when it came out that Andy was_the_new Elder's Quorum President for our_ward._No wonder he'd looked familiar. Mark_and_Andy_had also been mission companions_in Atlanta. You could tell they_were close. John was a man of few words_and most of_them were monosyllable but I_suspect_that_was mostly to hide his Texas accent.

When phone numbers were_exchanged, plans_made for the_next day, and the dishes done, Jackie went screaming through_the house. "I can't believe you did_that." She paused long enough to