I’ve had better weeks, is my reply.

Alec: Want to hear a joke?

May: I love a good joke.

Alec: I didn’t say it was a GOOD joke.

May: I’ll take my chances.

Alec: A screwdriver walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Hey, we have a drink named after you!"

Alec: The Screwdriver responds, "You have a drink named Murray?"

May: Is it pathetic that I just LOLed?

Alec: Nah. I love that joke. If you’re a really lucky girl, someday I’ll tell you the one about the mushroom who walks into a bar. But that one has to be told in person.

May: It won’t be easy to wait, but I’ll try.

Alec: In all seriousness, is there anything I can do to help? Besides telling you my collection of bar jokes?

I’m about to reply no, when I have an idea. I probably shouldn’t ask Alec for another favor. But if he says yes, it will help me out a great deal. And maybe there’s a way I could make it up to him.

May: There is one little thing…