This weeks Wednesday Friction prompt, was to write a story with someone crying, and someone telling a Joke!  I hope you enjoy.

Three strikes and you're out!

“Any idea why she's crying?”

“Not the slightest!”

In her mid thirties, brown hair, brown eyes, jeans, blouse, cowboy boots; and crying her heart out, in my corner booth. I'd been watching her, for thirty minutes now. Soaking up half the napkins from the table dispenser, just blowing her nose and dabbing at the flood of tears rolling down her cheeks.

“So why’d you let her sit in my booth?”

“I was in the kitchen when she came in John-J,” Fran said in self defense. “By the time I got to the table, she'd spilled enough tears to fill up lake Michigan.”

I whispered to Fran “ I hate it when women cry.” She was making this eerie wailing sound reminiscent of a WWII air raid siren.

Walter had been sitting with us the whole time, but had refrained from making any comments. Then, without announcing his intentions, he vacated the counter stool sauntering his way over to Monsoon Sally. He'd stood at the table until, between sobs she'd gestured, allowing him to sit in the booth across from her. Fran and I were shocked, when inconsiderate, unsympathetic Walter, had affectionately reached out taking hold of her hands.

She was still crying, as Walter began saying something inaudible from our place at the counter. The woman had just about stopped crying as Walter ended whatever he'd been saying to calm her down. Then, drawing in a reservoir of air, Monsoon Sally began wailing and crying all over again. I had the impression it was even intenser than before. Fran and I exchanged glances, saying nothing.

The scene of Walter, taking her hands and Sally almost reaching a non wailing dry spell, repeated it self two more times. Eventually, Walter released her hands, and sauntered back to where we both had been watching his heroic attempts at consoling the distraught woman.

“Walter, that was so compassionate of you. So unbelievably heart warming to witness you do something like that. You have definitely climbed higher up the ladder of my respect.” Then Fran rested her hand on one of Walter's.

“So what were you telling her?” I wanted to know.

“Oh nothing much, just a few jokes.”

“JOKES?!” Fran almost shouted it.

“Yep jokes.” She looked like she needed some cheering up, so I told her some jokes.”

Fran snatched away her hand in one, quick repulsive motion. “I don't believe you. You're not that tactless. You couldn't be!”

“You saw how it almost worked. Then, every time I popped the punch line on her, she just went back into hysterics.”

Fran rolled her eyes in disbelief, than left me alone, with Walter.

I searched his eyes, not knowing what to ask first. “So did you tell the one about the elephant, the skunk and the Pygmy?”

“I sure did, but I'm not sure if she didn't get it or didn't like it. Anyway she didn't laugh that's for sure.”

Slight pause...

Did you tell her the one about the Pope and Jimmy Carter in the brothel?

“Yep.”

“And?”

“Nothing. Not even a little snicker.”

Another slight pause...

“How about your best one, with the talking duck?”

“Yep, and that's when she told me to leave her alone. Go figure.”

“Some people just don't appreciate a good joke when they hear one.” I said, trying to cheer him up.

A longer pause.......

“Any idea why she's crying?”

“Not the slightest.” “Although if you ask me, it's no joking matter.”