The buildup, of course, is what makes the payoff all worth it. They wish they could say what sculpted their sense of humor, but the smiles and laughs and horrible jokes feel as if they belong to a different time.

Their parents have never been ones to enjoy such things.

"Of course I have a sense of humor!" They flash a winning smile. "It's just a very bad sense of humor, so it's safer to say I don't have one at all."