THE CHRONICLES OF THE CHILD COMEDIAN

February 20th, 2024 |  San Francisco, CA

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I remembered a boy named Sehram today. He was in my world history class in middle school. He  used to make me laugh so hard snot would come out of my nose- to my great middle schooler shame and embarrassment. 

And even though others used this social faux-pas as an opportunity to make me the butt of the joke, he never did. I’d always see it in his face- as I hastily wiped my hilarity(snot) boogers from my face- the gladness. 

He would be so glad that he managed to get me to laugh so hard. That I found his antics so amusing. He was called a “class clown”. 
Never serious…

Always saying and doing absurd things. I’d always be sad when he didn’t show up for school, which was… often. Sad that I wouldn’t laugh so hard my nose snorted snot. It’s been a very long time since I’ve thought of Sehram. I do wonder if he’s still making people guffaw, and snort, and spit mid-drink. 

Now, that was one funny MoFo. I miss those days of levity. Of silliness. 

There are two things in life that I value very, very highly. And that is absurdity and levity. The idea that nothing really matters so we might as well joke and laugh about it. 

I don’t know why some children take on this personality trait so early. Could be endless reasons, but I know, after speaking or hearing from their adult counterparts, that it can come from a deep sense of awareness. A deep sense of loneliness. 

This constant need to lift the mood. We may have been(I think not always accurately) attributing this behavior to narcissism. An underlying need to be seen. To be heard. To be acknowledged. To elicit an emotional reaction. A stir.

Constantly. 

I think I’ll explore this… Maybe I’ll call the article: The Need for Levity and The “Class Clown” Syndrome. Or…

The Chronicles of The Child Comedian. 

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