Worse Than a Tree

An argument for comedy.

No wait!

Comedy for an Argument.

Yes, that works. Or perhaps, Comedy in Anger would work even better. Let's go with that.

COMEDY IN ANGER

If you've ever heard the words "And just what is so funny?" from an authority figure, chances are you've just been subjected to comedy in anger. Some authority figure (often read as "mom" or "mother") under the guise of lecturing you has inadvertently made you laugh. Chances are you got in more trouble for said laughter.

But you know, it doesn't always have to be that way. Humor can lighten up many otherwise somber situations if you let it. Ask my son. He recently got in the biggest trouble for treating me casually outside his school.

I'd gone to meet him and since the car was in the shop that day, I'd walked there and stood with the other parents outside the doors our children would come bursting through at the sound of the bell. The bell tolled, we knew whom it was for, and we braced ourselves for the stampede. I grinned like a goof, looking forward to seeing my child come barreling toward me. I watched as other children happily waved to parents. Still others went so far as to talk to theirs. My child pretended I wasn't there and attempted to walk in the opposite direction from where I stood. Apparently, he is too big to be treated like a baby and have his mommy come get him. I could see his point, but there was no way he was getting away with treating his mother like that! He heard about it and then some.

Once home, the lecture of all lectures on respect and thirty-seven hours of labor eleven years earlier ensued. Reminders of all the wonderful food he's eaten over the years because of my culinary prowess, recollections of cool toys I deigned to purchase my ungrateful child were all laid out before us.

As I sputtered my displeasure, heedless of the feasibility of my words, I said, "And how do you treat me? Like I'm a . . . like I'm a . . . a tree! Just one more tree in the schoolyard. No wait! Worse than a tree! A tree that moves and follows you and annoys you!"

He covered his face, his shoulders shook, and guilt washed over me. I hadn't meant to make him cry. Contrition, remorse; these were the things I was seeking. But to make my child cry? I'd gone too far. "Nate? Are you okay, hon?" He looked up at me in the silence between us, a big grin on his face. This shocked me.

"And just what is so funny, young man?" I even did the stance. The hands-on-my-hips-foot-ready-to-tap stance.

"A tree that follows me and annoys me, Mom?" he asked. He shook his head then laughed again, trying unsuccessfully to wipe that grin off his face. Despite his best efforts, laughter snorted through his nose.

"It isn't even sarcastic. It isn't even possible," he managed, holding his sides, covering his mouth as if this would hide the smile from me. A bigger fit of laughter took hold of him, and still he tried to keep it in.

He knew the storm had passed though when I tried to hide my own smile and failing that, finally said, "Nate! I'm trying to give you grief here. Play along!"

When the moment finally passed, two very difficult days of no electronic games ensued that left him lying on the sofa sighing away the hours, and muttering "Do I ever know better now."

The best part to come out of that exchange is that now I can go to his school, he says hello like he knows me, and we share a private laugh over how my likeness to an annoying, walking tree is uncanny.

The point to all of this? I encourage you to use comedy as often as you can, in as many situations as you can. Laughter is medicine, a diffuser, a way to turn frowns upside down, and bring out the cornball in anybody. You will be amazed how good it is for your comedic writing! The sarcasm will drip from your screen, your ability to get your characters laughing will be second nature to you, and best of all, you'll feel really good! Laughter has that effect, you know. Now go say something stupid in an argument, get that grin on your face, and go write about it!