I was the life of the party. Even when there was no party. I made one happen. I made people laugh. I made myself laugh.

I worked good and hard to make myself laugh. Lord, you could hear my laugh from a block away.

“Isn't he something, that Lester?,” people would say. “Always happy. Look at him. Always with the smile.”

Hell, even I thought I was happy. As long as I wasn't alone. I can't tell you how I hated that, being alone.

Oh, not everyone signed on. Sometimes I'd see people frown, or move to another table. Once I heard someone say, “God, I wish that jerk would keep it down.” But who cares, right? Party-poopers. You get'em up in every crowd.

Still, it wore me out sometimes, working like that, keeping the motor running, the horn honking, the smoke pouring out. Sometimes I just wanted to come to rest, you know? Stop. Like a shark.

Oh, that's right. Sharks don't stop. They can't. Or they'll die.

So today, I made a mistake. I stayed alone. And then I decided, that's what I'll do. I'll just stop. I'll rest.

Oh yeah, and I took some pills. A lot of pills.

Any moment now.

Do you know? I feel great.

Just one thing. Please?

Don't laugh.