Laughter ranks on top when it comes to my family's emotions.  Mom and Dad made sure there was a lot of it, and we have all been blessed with a good sense of humor.  Some of us have more of a devious way of delivering humor; however, I tend to stay more low-key.  But . . . there was a time . . .

My three older brothers had their own very popular band while living in New Hampshire.  Once in a while, my sister and I had the opportunity to see them when they came to our Massachusetts town.  One evening, they were playing at a local Chinese restauant, so Joan and I decided to go see them.

Part way through the evening, I told Joan I had to use the restroom, and she decided she would go along - you know how women do these things.   I got there ahead of Joan and went in to take care of business.  Pretty soon the ladies' room door opened and someone entered.  Then someone else came in after her. 

The next thing I know I hear my sister, Joan, asking for toilet paper.  I began to grin but didn't make a sound.  She asked again, "Susan, did you hear me?  Pass me some toilet paper, now!"  At this point, I was laughing into the crook of my arm, barely breathing.  Finally, I hear her say through gritting teeth, "Susan, if you don't pass me some toilet paper . . . "

In the middle of that threat, Joan stops and says, "It's about time!!"  Now, I have come out of my little roost and made my way out the door and into the little powder room.  I'm standing in the corner laughing hysterically but making not a sound.  I stumbled out of the room and back into the restaurant.

When I got to the table, my brothers were there, taking a 10 minute break.  I told them what happened, and by the time Joan came out, we were looking pretty sheepish.  She looked at me with fire in her eyes and said, "Susan, why did you wait so long to give me the stupid toilet paper?  if you ever do that to me again . . . "  Then, in between short little breaths I explained, "Joan, that wasn't me next to you in the bathroom!" 

I wish you could have seen the horrified expression on her face.  Joan was furious with an unknown person, who dared not to make her any angrier by eventually handing her the toilet paper. 

Although embarrassing to Joan, it was more than a little amusing to the rest of us.  It took her a while to accept the hillarity of it, but to this day Joan laughs harder than anyone else each time the story is re-told.