Funny Bone Comedy Club – Westport, St. Louis I’m here. New set. Hours of practice. I can hear the rhythm of my jokes in my head like I’ve been running them in a loop all day. My name’s on the sign-up sheet. I’m ready. They start calling names. The room has that low hum of beer, chatter, and anticipation. I’m watching the stage, feeling the tension in my chest build with every name that’s not mine. And then… it’s over. My name never gets called. I hang around anyway, hoping something opens up. Nothing. I try another open mic across town. Same thing. So tonight, I carry my set back home, untouched. The jokes stay in my notebook. The mic stays in someone else’s hands. No laughs, no groans… no dreams tonight.
