Mirth

By Iris N. Schwartz

Because his brother-in-law Stevie was so freaking fastidious—he picked stringy celery from tuna salad—Russ always got a buzz recounting the time he had gift-wrapped (with bows!) fly-ridden, pulpy bananas; gnawed Buffalo wings; and one loaded baby’s diaper, which he’d doused with bargain-bin lavender disinfectant before depositing it in the trunk of Stevie’s pristine 2013 Mercedes sedan.

Russ would snicker every time his sister described Stevie’s steel-wool-pad cleansing of his befouled hands for “one good hour.” Russ would explode, croaks, giggles, and “ek-ha, ekk-haa, ekkk-haaas” sputtering out.

Stevie won’t talk to Russ. Russ’s sister visits alone.

Russ believes pranks are “priceless.”