There’s no shortage of sadness. There’s no blaming those who succumb to omnipresent gloom. It’s today’s pervasive emotional climate. However, there’s also enough laughter to go around. At least laughter that comes with a knowing wink, in camaraderie with the many prone to sadnesses. This collection of 19 short stories hopes to make you laugh. That is: Despite the planet heating up. Despite the constant threat of fascism and disinformation. Despite empires disguised as good guys. Despite neoliberalism’s false promises and the ruthless competition, it demands. Despite the persistent clout of capitalism, unrelenting in its dominion over life, over happiness. Despite, perhaps, a lack of exercise . . . By the end of the book, laughter finds a purpose, a place in the collective, aware of its rightful target. From sadness to laughter to indignation. But wait there’s more. Cheers.