A Major Discovery About Old People

Soon, it will probably be a scientific fact

Babies cry.

We run to soothe them.

We get angry because they won’t stop.

We cry with them.

The whole Universe has turned into a wail. Nothing else exists.

The babies laugh.

We tickle them some more.

We open our eyes wide, unbelieving.

We laugh with them.

Their laughter echoes through the empty chambers of Space, filling them with gold.

Golden chips of laughter rain on us. Nothing else exists.

Our adult friends cry.

We hug them.

We kiss them.

We talk to them, Be stronger! This will pass!

We cry with them.

At night we can’t sleep because their sobs are racking our minds like war bombs.

Our adult friends laugh.

We are pleased they got our joke.

We are pleased we can make them happy.

We secretly think, I want your success, too. I’ll get it one day, but meanwhile, I’ll rejoice in yours.

We laugh with them.

Our old relatives cry.

It’s unbecoming.

Tears don’t suit wrinkles, or spotted and sagging skin.

Sobs don’t go well with bent shoulders.

This crying is not authentic.

It’s a mask.

Underneath, old people are not really sad.

So, we are not sad either.

We don’t cry with them.

Our old relatives laugh.

It’s unbecoming.

A smile reveals missing teeth or yellow teeth,

or teeth that are too white for their age.

Laughter fills the air with saliva

and sometimes, bad breath.

This expression of happiness is painful to watch

and must be painful to express,

so it can’t be real.

It’s a learned action without meaning.

Behind it, old people are not really happy.

So, we are not happy either.

We don’t laugh with them.

Based on our observations, it seems that the human capability to have genuine feelings completely disappears in the twilight of life.

This is a major discovery.

And we wonder

how come nobody has written a dissertation on it yet?

If you liked this story, you might enjoy any of my society and philosophy pieces here:

Thank you!