Ben’s brain is fast – the kind of fast that makes jokes sharper than most people’s thoughts.
When Alex messed up in front of everyone, the line formed instantly in Ben’s head: brutal, honest, and guaranteed to get a laugh.
Once, he would have said it.
But this time, just before speaking, he caught one tiny detail: Alex’s face. Not the mistake – the shame underneath it. His nervous system recognized something familiar: “I know that feeling.”
The joke swerved.
The best jokes don’t pierce the person. They puncture the tension.
“You did the hard part,” Ben said instead. “None of us even tried.” People laughed anyway – not at Alex, but with relief.
That night, Ben lay in bed replaying the moment. His brain had discovered a better punchline.
