In on the Joke

"Uh, I don't know if you'd like my school, Keon. I mean, it's really different, and um . . ."

"Oh, ah gonna be faine, cozen! Iss alrigh', ah wanna see where you go ta school!"

"Keon, you don't understand. It's a crazy University . . . a looniversity! It's not going to be easy for you to blend in."

"Oh Mery gurl, you worry too moch. Iss gonna be a lotta laughs! Ah see yoo at duh airport." The other line went dead. Mary Melody looked sadly at the phone. "A lotta laughs, huh? Keon, you don't know how right you are."

The next day did nothing to put Mary's mind at ease. That day, she walked to school, feeling a bit down. There had to be some way she could shield Keon from the toons. But how? Mary was so worried that she didn't see Buster and Babs Bunny (no relation) slip in stride with her. "Heya Mary, what's up?" Buster said, winking at Babs. Mary started, looked at the two, then looked up automatically. "I don't know, but better up than down," she replied. Buster chuckled. "Looks like you're finally getting the hang of this place!" Mary gulped. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Why?" Babs asked. Mary shrugged. "I always wanted to be just normal, and here . . . I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in."

"That's ridiculous! Of course you fit in!" Babs said, patting her on the back. "Besides, you gotta admit, the Looniversity's a lotta laughs!" Buster added. Mary gave a little smile. This was a mistake. A smile wasn't far from a laugh to toons, and it just encouraged them.  By the time they had reached the Looniversity, Mary was laughing just as hard as the two rabbits. Some toons got to Mary more, though she really didn't know why. Perhaps it was her stern upbringing. It was hard to be prepared for everyday comedy, and even harder when you didn't watch cartoons as a kid. In fact, Mary was really surprised that her parents let her go to the Looniversity at all, it being a school mostly for toons. As it was, Mary tried to stay as far away from most of them as possible. She stayed close to the less-wacky toons, like Fifi and Hampton. And of course, Go-go was a no-no. Toons, however, sometimes couldn't take a hint, and would just walk up to her. She sometimes felt that they were all ganging up on her, using her for their personal joke punchline bag.

When Mary had first moved to Acme acres, she had been nervous. The Looniversity, while a great place to study film, was a personal hell for the shy.  Mary had been terribly shy when she'd arrived, and it hadn't helped that the place was run by some of the most famous toons in all of Warner Bros. history.  Granted, Babs and Buster had really helped with that. They were very welcoming, and tried to help Mary along in her classes. But Mary just ended up wondering how long she could endure the school. The place was a riot, but it was sometimes a little frightening, and most definitely weird on the best of days.  

Mary worried all day about how Keon would deal with Acme Loo and its crazy students and teachers. So much so, in fact, that she hardly focused on anything else. The day went by in a blur, and later Mary reflected that she probably didn't do a very good job in any class. Sure, some of the classes, like class clowning (which Buster almost always aced) and hilarity (which Babs really shone in), got Mary's mind off her Jamaican cousin, but she didn't count those as classes. They were more "out-doing" classes, classes where the toons acted out and challenged each other to be more personally funny. Of course there was also study hall, which Mary thankfully got to skip because though she didn't have a personal mentor she got to take an extra course in photography, which she loved. Babs had to deal with that extra time, and she was already having a hard time with it. Mary didn't really want to be around a stressed-out Babs, even if she was nice, for a toon.

As Mary walked home from school, she hoped fervently that Keon would somehow be unable to attend Acme Loo next week. Maybe if he caught a cold, one so bad that he'd have to stay in bed all day, then he wouldn't be able to come! Mary brightened just a little. Perhaps he'd get sick in Acme Acres' colder climate.  

The only one who had noticed Mary out of sorts the entire day was Wendel. He was just as shy as she was, but somehow didn't laugh as much in the Looniversity. Mary personally thought that he had a will of iron, or no sense of humor. Either way, he was the only other "normal" person Mary could talk to. He was particularly close to Mary, and had even taken her to prom.

"Mary, what's wrong? You've been worrying all day." Wendel said as they walked home together. Mary sighed. "I just wish my cousin wasn't coming."

"Who, Keon? Why?"

"Well, he's going to come and visit the school for a bit, do that study abroad thing. But I'm worried he'll go crazy before the first day is over. I almost did." Wendel shrugged. "Maybe he'll like it. I know I did." Mary stopped walking and looked, jaw dropped, at Wendel. "You WHAT?" Wendel gave her a small smile. "The toons are amusing. Besides, my parents said I needed to loosen up. I think I have, at the Looniversity."

"Wendel, you barely have any friends." Wendel shook his head. "I have friends in my neighborhood. And Buster's a pal when I'm stuck on something. Besides," Wendel's smile broadened. "We made a bet."

"What bet?"

"If the toons are able to crack me halfway through the year, I do Buster's math homework for the rest of the year. If not, Buster does my goof-off homework. I don't think I'll crack any time soon." Mary rolled her eyes. "I don't know how you can't." Wendel shrugged. "I just don't find them all that funny. I'm not so much into physical comedy. You seem to enjoy them, though." Mary sighed. "Yeah, but sometimes I wish I didn't. If my parents knew what the school was really like, they'd kill me." Wendel patted Mary comfortingly on the shoulder consolingly before they continued walking in silence.

At the airport, Keon gave Mary a giant hug and handed her a small present. "Dis is jus' a liddle sumptin' frum Chamehka." He said, giving her another hug. Mary opened it to find a beautiful shell necklace, and in the center a lovely pink conch. "Oh, Keon!" she said, hugging him. "It's beautiful!" The Jamaican smiled broadly and gave Mary a big hug. "Aw, dat's nutin, mery! iss jus a lil' sumptin' ah do on mah beach in Chamaica." Mary smiled as they began walking to collect Keon's baggage. "Do you sell them?" Keon shrugged. "Ah do wen it de tourist tyme, an' et gives mah 'ands sumptin tuh doo when de darkness she cum in de wintah."

"Wow, Keon, that's really creative." Mary said, looking down at the beads as they waited for the luggage to roll by. Keon brightened. "you tink so? Mi moodah, she seh et encouragin' da tourists to cum 'long our sands, boot a kid got to make money somehow, doncha noh. Boot ah' kn't wait tuh meet alla yoor friends at dat university you goin' to. How dat been?" Mary shrugged. "It's alright, but sometimes I think I'm going to go crazy there." Keon raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he grabbed one of the two suitcases.

"Mom and dad said that we could take a cab home." Keon nodded, sympathetic. "Dem workin' late tonight?" Mary sighed. "Yeah. I wish they would get a different job. . . maybe even someplace far away. I don't think I'd mind moving too much, but mom and dad seem to think it'd be best for me to stay here."

"You fadda, he know best, coozen," Keon said as they got into the cab. "I'm not so sure about that." Mary replied as she followed. "To 6379, Charles Jones lane, please." She said to the cab driver. "Listen, Keon, are you sure you're going to be ok coming to school with me for a bit? It's not exactly a . . . normal school." Keon shrugged. "Ahm noht exactly a nohmal boy, Mery." No matter what Mary said, nothing could convince Keon that her school was different than any other school. That is, until they walked to school the next day.

Keon was nearly bursting with excitement as they walked along, peppering her with questions. "Tell me 'bout your friends, Mery! What ah dey like?" Mary hesitated. "Well, they're . . . kind of hard to explain. They're real friendly." Keon smiled eagerly. "wot else, cozen?"

"Uh . . . they tell good jokes . . ." Mary faltered. Unfortunately, in two second more, Keon and Mary were not alone. "Whadday mean we tell 'good' jokes?! We tell GREAT jokes!" Babs said, popping up beside Mary. "Well, Babs does, anyway. I'm more punny." The Rabbits noticed Keon right away. "Hey, are you gonna introduce us, Mary?"

"Uh, Babs, Buster, this is Keon, my cousin from Jamaica. K-keon, this is Babs and Buster Bunny." Both rabbits took hold of each of Keon's hands and shook, saying in unision. "No relation." Keon looked mildly shocked. "You . . . you rabbits!" Babs and Buster nodded. Suddenly, a loud bell began ringing. They weren't too far from the campus. "Hurry Keon, Mary! We'll be late for school!" Babs grabbed Keon's hand, while Buster grabbed Mary's. Together they ran quickly to the campus, just in time to beat the bell. Once inside, Buster and Babs dragged the hapless humans to their first class. Keon was with Mary in most classes, who, in turn, was in most classes with the Bunnies.

Their first class that morning was toon science. All through, Mary noticed Keon's eyes growing wider and wider. Wile E. Coyote was the teacher of this class, so he was silent most of the time. Still, Keon shrunk away from the professor, while Babs and Buster tried to offer comforting notes. Mary breathed a sigh of relief when they exited and went out into the chaotic hallway. Speeding toons ran up and down, trying to get to class. Mary yanked Keon into the doorway of their next classroom. "What . . . what is dis place?" Keon asked, bewildered. Mary sighed. "It's . . . Looniversity. Not University, Keon, LOONiversity. I tried to tell you over the phone. These guys . . . they're all studying to be toons, stars in the cartoon world. There are a bunch of majors, and I take the film major. It's the best one this side of the country." Keon shook his head, baffled. "Ah herd about dis place, but ah nevah expected tuh go heya." Mary sighed. "Well, you just stick by me. And try not to smile. It only encourages the toons." Keon's eyebrows raised. "Encourage dem? To do what?" Just at that moment, the bell rang. "Oh, that's our next class. This one's harder." Mary said, as she gently pulled him inside. "wot's dis one?" Keon asked. Mary looked at the poor boy sympathetically. "Class clowning."

At the beginning of the class, Mary introduced Keon formally. Yosemite Sam nodded, more courteous than Mary had ever seen him in his life, and began the lesson. And as usual, it was hard to keep a straight face. Buster began his normal antics.
"Well hiya everybody!" Buster said. "I'm proud to welcome our international student, Keon. You know, Keon, the US ain't all it's cracked up to be." Keon raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Buster shrugged. "mostly because our map is cracked." He pulled out a puzzle of the US, which crumbled in his hands. Mary tried hard to hide a smile. Keon looked at Buster, bewildered. Mary could almost see his thoughts. Have to try harder. It was buster's personal goal to have everyone laughing by the end of the class. Of course, Wendel never cracked. But everyone else did. She saw Buster's lightbulb go off, and then he grabbed Sam. Keon gasped, but the anger-management prof. surprisingly kept his cool, at least for a few seconds. "Happy birthday, you great big tarnation, you!" Buster said, giving Sam a big kiss on the lips and cartwheeling away. Sam lost it.

"Wha yew low-life bunny! Why ah'm –." Buster took out a button, winked at Keon, and pressed it. Suddenly Sam's words became "Yeller-livied . .beeeeeeeeeeeeeep!" Shock written all over his face, Sam covered his mouth. Buster winked again. When Sam tried to talk again, all that came out was "COCKADOODLEDOO!!"  Keon began to giggle. Sam tried again. "Mooooooooooooo!" the class began to chuckle. Mary felt her face turning red. "This is serious," she said to herself. "What if Buster tries to use that on you?! Then you'd be in for it!" But Buster, ever the good comedian, brought the funny up a notch. He saw the cracks in seriousness, and like any good toon, knew that it soon would break. The next time Sam opened his mouth it was "Bawk, bawkbawk BAWWWWK!" The class roared in laughter. Everyone clutched their stomachs, laughing, especially Keon. Wendel was the only one silent, waiting for the mirth to stop.

"Wait, wait, lemme try!" Plucky duck stood up, and everyone fell silent. Ducks were a constant running joke in the WB world. Keon began to laugh at the sheer awkwardness of it all, and the class followed. Sam huffed and puffed, snatched the control away from Buster and twirled the dial. But he must have gotten something wrong because when he opened up his mouth for the fifth time, out came a familiar phrase. "Eeeeeeyh, what's up, doc?" Sam's eyes widened, and he turned the dial back a bit. "Youuuuu're dethspicable." Even Plucky was laughing at that one. "Bladagthsksdfkasurkjsklfmcaslkytaskjsdfmsfaasdfsff!" Sam tried again, this time sounding like the crazed Tazmanian devil. In panic, Sam turned the dial hard. "Ssssshhhh! Be vewy vewy quiet! I'm hunting wabbits!" The class was in such an uproar that they could hardly hear the bell.

Keon wiped the mirth from his eyes and shook Buster by the hand. "Tanks, Bustah! Ah don' tink ah've laughed like dat in a while! How'd you do it?" Buster grinned, placing his arm around him. "Well, it was nothing. I just borrowed that doohickey from Bugs." Keon's eyes widened. "You don' mean de Bugs bunny, do you?" Buster nodded. "Who else? he's my personal mentor, and principal of the school. I can introduce you to him sometime, if you want." Keon smiled shyly. "Ah don' know. . ."
"Aw, don't worry. Bugs is the nicest guy around." Plucky snorted as he fell in step with the two as they walked out into the hallway. "Bugs may be nice, but Daffyths the bethst there is!" Buster rolled his eyes. "Naw, it's Bugs, every time. Hey, Wendel, what do YOU think?" Buster said as he caught the boy walking out of class, followed by Mary. Wendel pushed his glasses a little further up the bridge of his nose. "Well, both have a record for comedic genius, though I'd have to say that I like the more refined style myself." Buster eyed the boy critically. "I noticed you weren't laughing at my routine, Wendel." Wendel shrugged. "You're going to have to try harder than that to make me laugh, Bunny. I look foreward to my homework being done for the rest of the year." Buster rolled his eyes. "In your dreams, pal."

As Wendel walked away, Mary fell in step with Plucky, Keon, and Buster. "Wot's dat alllabout?" Keon asked curiously. Buster shrugged. "Me and Wendel made a bet that if I could make him laugh halfway through the year, he'd do my math homework for the rest of it. If I can't, then I do his toon homework. I've got a week left, and I've tried every gag I know! I just don't know how to crack that guy."

"Maybe choo need anudder approach, man." Keon suggested. Buster shrugged. "I've tried all the jokes, puns, and silly scenes I know, and no matter what I do that kid keeps a straight face." Buster's lightbulb came on. "Hey, Mary . . ." Mary shook her head immediately. "No, Buster. I'm not going to find out what comedians he likes for you. If you want it, you can find out yourself." Mary immediately wished she had kept her lips shut, for the Bunny got a sly look in his eyes. "Hmmmm . . . Bunny reconnisance! I kinda like that idea. Say, Pluckster, you in?" the green duck nodded. "That kid bugs me. He never laughs at my jokes!"

"Plucky, no one laughs at your jokes," Babs said, coming up beside Keon. "Hey, Keon, how's it going? How are you liking the Looniversity so far?" Keon smiled. "Ah like it very much, tanks, Babs. Wot's our next class?"

"It's Toon history. Snoresville." Buster said. Mary rolled her eyes. "You'd think you'd be more interested in your hero's past, Buster." Babs nodded, hands on hips. "Yeah, Buster Bunny!" Buster sighed. "I wish Fudd would make it more interesting, though. He's so boring, except for the occasional 'Wabbit' or 'Wascawy' in his lectures."

The entire day continued to surprise Mary. Not only did Keon soon become comfortable around the toons, but he actually enjoyed it. Mary could not help feeling a bit jelous. Meanwhile, Buster tried his hardest to get Wendel to laugh, but to no avail. He began planning the reconnasance mission with Babs and Plucky on their walk home. Keon even asked to be involved, but Buster shook his head. "You need to rest. I'm sure you're jet lagging." Keon looked quizzically at Buster. "Wot iss dis Jet lagging? I might be jet lagged but . ."

"Augh, Buster, do I have to lag this thing around?" Babs said behind them. The pair turned to see Babs indeed lagging a large jet around. Keon smiled. "Babs, no time for puns. We gotta strategize!" Babs smiled. "Ok." She pressed a button and the jet deflated and folded itself into her pocket. "Wow! How'd you do dat?!" Keon asked. Babs shrugged. "It's a special thing toons do. I don't think humans can pull it off." Keon's face fell. "Cheer up, Keon. Iths not all that bad." Plucky put in. "Yeah!" Buster said. "You have no idea how helpful you are with our jokes!" Keon brightened. "Really? How?"

"Well," Babs said. "it's like Mary over here. She can't do anything a toon can do, like walk away from an anvil flattening, but she can laugh at us. Laughter's good for toons. It's like medicine." The three toons nodded. Keon digested this information. "So, when Mery laughs at your jokes, you feel good?" he asked finally. The three nodded again. "It's great to have non-toons in the Looniversity. I'm glad Bugs let it happen." Babs said. Mary chewed on this information in silence, all the way home, even through dinner. Keon told them all about school, but they didn't seem to mind. "Glad you're having a good time at the university, Keon." They said, and went back to discussing both their jobs. Mary ate in silence. Did the toons really need her that much? She supposed, after a while, the jokes got old. What about Elmyra and Montana Max? well, those two were so crazy they could pass as toons themselves. Maybe that's why she wasn't being moved to a different school. Maybe they needed her more than she thought. Mary thought about this concept for the rest of the night.     

The next day, Buster, Plucky and Babs were bleary-eyed, but had the glint of success in their eyes. Mary felt in a slightly better mood. Her musings had led to a somewhat restful sleep. They needed her! "What's going on, guys?" she asked as they walked to school. Keon noticed it, too. "Wot's duh plan? You find anyting on Wendel?" Buster smiled and tapped his head with a gloved finger. "We got it all planned out. The plan might freak you guys out a little, but it should be worth it. Promise you two won't freak out, ok?" Mary nodded. "We won't tell anyboty bout it." Keon assured them. Buster, Plucky and Babs laid out their master plan.

Wendel was getting worried. The toons hadn't tried to make him laugh since last week. In fact, they hadn't tried to make anyone laugh. Buster had undergone a whole appearance change. So had Babs. The two would likely fail their classes which they had previously excelled in if they didn't change. Buster wore a neat black suit every day, and took a briefcase to school. His ears were always tied neatly at his neck, like an efficient businessman. Babs did the same, except she wore a navy blue pinstripe suit, and her ears were in a no-nonsense bun. They didn't laugh once all week, and no jokes were made at all in any class, least of all class clowning. Finally, on Thurseday, Wendel confided his fears to Mary.

Mary remembered her acting lessons at Acme Loo, and tried her hardest to keep her voice casual. "Well, maybe they lost their sense of humor. That happened to Babs once."  Wendel's face creased in worry, and for a moment Mary's face softened, touched at his concern for his friends. "What can I do? How do I get it back? I miss the old Babs and Buster." Mary pretended to think hard. "I have no idea. Keon, maybe you have an idea?" Keon walked up, and Mary "filled him in" on Wendel's problem. Keon, too, pretended to think hard. "Well, ah don' know fo shoor, but meybe if you show dem someting funny, dey get deyr humor back." Wendel was silent on the rest of the way home, considering this piece of advice.

The next day, Mary was shocked that Wendel had taken the bait. He walked to school with a big, red, rubber nose over his own. Mary stifled a giggle, and Wendal smiled in relief. "If you're laughing, then maybe this WILL work," Wendel said. But when they got to school, Babs and Buster looked as stern as ever. After first period, Wendel put on huge shoes. Nothing.

After second period, Wendel put on some popout glasses. Still nothing.

After third period, Wendel tried to tell a joke to them. Their faces were as stern as ever.

Wendel kept adding to his costume until he looked utterly ridiculous. Finally, at Lunch period, Wendel walked up to the two bunnies, anger on his face. "What's wrong with you two?" he asked as he shook them both by the shoulders. "What's going on? why won't you laugh?! I try everything I can think of to make you guys be your normal selves again, but all I get is nothing!" Wendel began ranting angrily, in a temper that Yosemite Sam would be proud of. With a small smile, Buster and Babs silently reached under their seats in the lunchroom and took out a huge flat item. It was a mirror.

"What the . . ." Wendel stopped. Someone, or something, stared back at him, in utter bafflement. And it looked ridiculous. It had a big red nose, huge shoes, crazy hair that spiked out in all directions, white gloves, pop-out glasses, balloons hanging from it's waist like a hula skirt, all completed with bright-colored pants and shirt that clashed so much it was a surprise the thing hadn't been caught by the fashion police. Wendel leaned forward. It was . . . him! Wendel stopped. He began to smile.  His smile turned into a giggle. His giggle turned into a chuckle, and his chuckle turned into a laugh! Every time he caught a glance at his crazy getup, he couldn't help laughing. Wendel suddenly found that everyone around him was laughing at him . . . no, not at him, with him! This only made Wendel laugh harder. Buster and Babs collapsed against Wendel in giggles. "How . . .heeheehee. . . . how did you do it?" Wendel said inbetween laughs.

"We . . . .hahahahahaha . . . . went to your house last week and found . . . . haahahahaha . . . your favorite comedy!" Babs said, holding her sides. "Irony! Hooohooohaahahaha!" Buster finished before he collapsed in merriment. Mary came up, laughing along with Keon. "Wendel, you look utterly ridiculous!" Wendel smiled up at mary, still giggling. "You, heehee, didn't have anything to do with this, heeheehee, did you Mary?" Mary nodded. "We all planned this last week . . . hahahahaha . . . I thought you didn't have a sense of humor, but I guess I was wrong!" Wendel smiled and laughed all the more. "You do my homework for a month!" Buster crowed triumphantly as he helped Wendel off the ground. Wendel, still giggling, replied, "It was worth it! Great job, Buster!"

"Why thank you, Wendel." Buster said, bowing.  Babs elbowed him in the ribs. "Yowch! Uh, of course I wouldn't have been able to do it without the wonderful acting of Babs . . ." Mary harrumphed. "Uh, and Mary and Keon." Wendel shook all their hands.

After school, Wendel walked home with Mary alone. Keon had gone to play some video games with Buster and Plucky. "You seem different, Mary." Wendel said at last. Mary shrugged. "I dunno. I feel different. I guess, not so afraid of laughing anymore." Wendel smiled and giggled a little. He had packed away the crazy costume, but like a good joke, the memory lingered a bit. "I feel that way, too. I guess that's the way with toons, huh?" Mary shrugged. "I guess. It's not a matter of laughing or not. It's about letting yourself in on the joke."