The World's First Laugh
Long ago when the world was new, a bird lit upon a branch and whistled. It was a noise that shattered stillness. One by one the creatures of the earth called back until the cacophony of sound rose in such a glorious timbre that the earth began to shake. The hills shuddered, the mountains trembled, the valleys swayed. And when it seemed as though the ground would crack in two, the movement subsided until it was no more than a gentle rumble. The creatures looked about them, their eyes darting and deep with panicked fear. But the bird knew better. She knew it was the world's first laugh.