“Share the joke?” the waitress asked, clonking two coffee cups down on their table. “Been on since five and I could use a laugh.” “None of this is real,” Louise said. The waitress set down a little crockery bowl of nondairy creamer. “I hope not,” she said, pouring coffee.”

“Share the joke?” the waitress asked, clonking two coffee cups down on their table. “Been on since five and I could use a laugh.” “None of this is real,” Louise said. The waitress set down a little crockery bowl of nondairy creamer. “I hope not,” she said, pouring coffee.”

— Grady Hendrix