Libby's Laugh
In memory of my best friend who always made me laugh.
Libby loved to laugh.
She loved to chuckle. She loved to giggle.
She even loved an occasional snicker.
But most of all she loved those big, nose scrunching, unexpected belly laughs.
Almost anything could trigger one of those loud, shrieky laughs.
A friend’s funny story.
Her dad’s silly faces.
A goofy joke from her best friend, Kev.
Sometimes she would laugh so hard her face would turn bright red and a tiny little toot would escape!
Of course, all that did was make her laugh even more.
Libby didn’t always laugh though. Things couldn’t be funny ALL the time.
Sometimes she was quiet.
Sometimes she was angry.
Sometimes she was sad or even scared.
Having nothing to laugh at wasn’t easy for Libby. There were times when all she wanted to do was laugh but it felt like there just weren’t any laughs left.
She knew a secret though.
She knew that it was impossible to run out of laughs!
She knew that even when they seemed far away, those laughs would still show up!
It may be just a little giggle at first but, if she just waited a little bit longer…
BOOM!
Suddenly she would be smiling bigger, her nose would scrunch and she wouldn’t be able to hold it in anymore!
She’d find a belly laugh.
Libby’s favorite thing.
About the Creator
Mary Skinner
Co-High Chief Creative Writer and Editor of the Magic Man fiction writers club of Texas.
Inspired by my partner Sam Vela's works also posted on this site I am excited to be sharing my stories, ideas, and dreams.
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More stories from Mary Skinner and writers in Fiction and other communities.
This is where it gets dark.
"Mom, she’s dead.” I don’t know how I wrote those words or why I chose to say it that way. But those were the facts. They found her and she was dead. How else do you say that? I had to tell my mom, she knew we’d been out looking for Libby all day. So, I just said it. My phone was old and the battery was of course on 1% which meant I had to say it quickly. I remember trying to think of a different way to say “my battery is dying” because the words “dead” and “dying” were now suddenly very real and literal for me. Mary Anne was crying, and her friend Wendy who’d come to be a support was crying. I think I was crying too. I think I was also completely made of stone. I guess it was shock. But to be honest, I knew in my gut as soon as I got the call that morning telling me Libby was missing that it wouldn’t end like it did last time. But still my body and brain were made of cold, hard, marble. All I could do was whatever had to be done. Mary Anne and I knew that the next thing that had to be done was to tell Kathryn. But she was thousands of miles away getting ready to perform on Broadway.
By Mary Skinner9 months ago in Chapters
The Road to Nowhere
Trigger warnings: Violence, Death. "May the Sun burn your tongue out, woman," Fredrick's father screamed the curse into his mother's ear as their elegant little carriage rumbled along, its polished wood and gilded trim glinting in the torchlight. They had just left the small village of Saffron and were on an unnamed road to the capital for the Royal wedding. Fredrick leaned back in his plush velvet seat to escape into the passing landscape, but across from him sat the servant boy, a scrappy lad named Jack. Jack's eyes held a mixture of awe and fear, the kind that only a commoner could feel in the presence of nobility. Jack looked up and caught Fredrick's gaze, offering him a sad little smile before reaching into his pocket and retrieving a little caramel treat. This candy was no doubt stolen from the kitchen treat cupboard; if he was caught with it, he would be locked in the box as punishment.
By Frank English6 days ago in Fiction
Symphony of the Unseen
In a quaint village nestled between rolling hills and whispering woods, there existed an enigmatic legend known only to a few. It spoke of a horn, carved from the ancient trees that guarded the secrets of the forest. Whispers in the wind told of its powers—capable of summoning creatures of the night, or so the tale went.
By Ekombe hau2 days ago in Fiction
Comments (2)
Dear Ms. Mary - So glad that I've just discovered your 'Original' work. This caught my eye since I have (2) Corgis 'Lola & Libby' *As I've read them I've subscribed to you with pleasure in anticipation of what you may present to us next. I've stood back a little since the "Creative" new ways to write writer's among us with filler (4) letter words and (4) line poems have made simple StoryTellers such as myself a dinosaur. I'm just a retired, highly scrutinized, legal writer morphed into a self described 'Goof-Writer' nothing more. I don't count stats-contests-rewards; this was just fun, at first, in retirement for me. May I introduce myself: See current photo under my story 'Wheelchair Etiquette' that I was asked to insert there since it might help to identify me since - of all stories - that one was plagiarized among a few of my others. Please check your stories - especially your TOP to see if it's been reworked simply with a different title: It's an awful feeling when this is done to us. Thank you Mary, I only wish you and Sam the best. Jay Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author - Vocal Village Community -
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