AAOOOSC! United

"A Blind Man Walked Into A Bar..."

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
July 9, 2017
Early Afternoon

"A blind man walked into a bar...," Reid states.

Nolan and Kale Clague turn to him with inquisitive expressions. The three former Wheat Kings teammates are strolling down the empty, cobblestone sidewalks of Brandon under the trees lined down, blocking most of the radiant sun from their path.

"...and a stool...and a table...and a waiter...and the wall," he finishes off, cracking a grin.

Nolan's face morphs into a gawk. Then he scoffs and rolls his eyes while turning his head away from him.

"Oh, I get it!" Kale exclaims in his soft, Canadian-accented voice. He has thick, voluminous brown hair brushed back, rounded, slightly heavy-lidded hazel-coloured eyes, stubble lining his jawline, chin, and above his lips.

He points at the jokester with a toothy smile. "He walks into everything because he can't see! That's a good one!"

Reid adjusts the collar of his shirt with proudness. "Thank you! One of my finest! Wanna hear another one?"

"No, shmooker, I think that's enough," Nolan sputters out, eyeing him with uncertainty.

Reid gazes at him with hurt. "Aw, come on, I have plenty more to share!"

Nolan halts by the side of the curb at the order of a red hand signal. The other two stop as well.

"You made like three thousand jokes going to the restaurant"—he points behind him— "in the restaurant—" He points downward. "—and now." He swings his hand across him.

"I don't mind hearing another one," Kale says with a shrug.

"Ka-ale!" Nolan yammers, gazing with wide eyes at him.

The signal switches to a person crossing.

"Okay, okay—" Reid rubs his hands together as he begins to walk with the three. "I'm gonna give a curveball here." He swishes his head to each teenager on both sides. "I have a great knock-knock joke, but one of you guys has to start me off."

Kale cooly nods over to Nolan with a smirk as him and the others step back onto the sidewalk. "You do it, Pat."

Nolan lets out a huff while rolling his eyes. "Fine." He turns to Reid with a flat expression. "Knock, knock."

Reid gives him a crumbled smile. "Who's there?"

Nolan darts his eyes from side-to-side in pure confusion, not knowing where the joke is heading.

Reid snickers, cupping his mouth with his hands. To his right, Kale is eyeing the tallest teenager with excited anticipation.

Irritation flashes through Nolan's face. "You TRICKED me!" He shoves Reid's shoulder hard.

Reid throws his head back in laughter, being joined by Kale. "OH-HOOOH, that was GOOD!"

Nolan crosses his arms in frustration. "I should've known not to trust a guy who dresses his horse in a three-piece suit!" He turns away from him with a fuming expression.

Reid points at him and squeaks out, "I fooled you badly! And hey—" He wags his index finger at him. "—you can still trust me, just not with jokes!"

"Hold it," Kale cuts in with surprise at Reid. "You actually dressed Crusty up in a three-piece suit?"

Reid turns to him with a solemn expression. "Well, of course. It said it was formal dress."

"He even included the newsboy cap," Nolan adds in sharply.

"And Crusty looked dazzlin'!" Reid finishes off, throwing his hands high up in a fashionable pose.