Mindy Chuong

Creative Writing

Finding Happiness

“Nah man she laughs more like a dolphin, he he he, not like a gorilla, ha ha ha,” Dan corrected as he sucked the last of his iced coffee. His co-host, Bobby gave himself a slap to the knee and chuckled.

“A dolphin! Why didn’t I think of that? I knew there was something weird about her laugh. Louis, write that down, we can use it in tomorrow’s show.” Louis’ wavy blond curls bobbed in acknowledgement as he scribbled vigorously into his notepad. “Hey intern, Dan and I are about out of coffee again, run down the block and grab a few more, will ya?” Bobby added. Louis continued to scribble as he stood and sauntered towards the door. His whole body seemed to jiggle with each step he took. His two bosses bit their lips and turned the other way, trying to conceal their snickers.

“Poor kid,” Dan muttered, “he’ll never get a girl.”

Louis strolled out of the coffee shop with drinks in hand and a smile on his face. His mother had been so proud he had finally gotten his first job. Having a job meant having money, and having money meant finally having friends. He flashed back ten years to a point in time when his self esteem was at an all time low. “Louis is a fatty, Louis is a fatty!” the other kids would tease. They would point and laugh, clutching their stomachs and flapping them up and down to mimic the movement of Louis’ body as he walked. He remembered how awful he felt, and the hurt look on his mother’s face when he told her about his day. She would hold him close and promise that things would get better as he got older. Now that he was older, he realized how special his mom was. She had always been so patient, loving, caring, and kind. He couldn’t think of a single time she had scolded him when he didn’t deserve it. She had always been there for him, sturdy as a rock. She got him through everything, and now he could finally do something nice for her. He could finally buy her nice things, take her out to dinner, and stop asking her for money for his own personal needs.