the actuary read an Wikipedia page
his eyes bulged as he read:
“Death from laughter”
straightaway, he cancelled his cable
and his dentist appointment
and a dinner with an old friend
he refused to laugh
even as his face reddened
even when his cat played a fool
his sister found him dead
in his closet
his fingers clenching his shirt
coroner examined him
and determined he died from stress
too bad he didn’t see that Wikipedia page
Originally written on July 1, 2016.