Best of Luck

by Jason Mott

“A good joke is just a small story, you know. Only difference is the delivery.”

When he looks back on his life, he sees that every day has been nothing but work. Sweat and toil and blisters and a bent back from one sunrise to the next, every one stacked atop a million others, and all of it calling itself a life.

“‘My dog died!’ Our Farmer shouts, his voice cracking. ‘How?!’ “‘Ate some bad horse.’ “‘Some bad horse?!’ “‘Yeah,’ the Neighbor says. ‘After your horse died.’ “‘My horse?!’ “‘When your barn caught fire.’ “‘My barn!’ “‘Must have been a cinder from where the house burned down. Never seen a fire that big before.’ He whistled in amazement. “‘What?!’ Our Farmer, he’s trembling with shock at this point. “‘Yeah,’ the Neighbor says. ‘Pretty sure your wife started that fire on her way out. When she left you, I mean.’

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