when she laughed, his ears perked up, and he could do nothing but listen.
it was light and airy and breathy
and little gasps infiltrated the sound,
as if the joke was so hilarious that her lungs struggled to take in air.
the whole room seemed to laugh with her,
and the tinkle of soft giggles was all to be heard through the doors.
but lately it's been quieter,
and sometimes when the principle puts his ear to the door,
checking for misbehavior,
he hears silence.
stupidly, he walks away,
thinking that's a good thing.