Sarah's Laugh

His mouth moved a beat or two behind the music but the joy erupting from it beat anybody's in the Pub singing in time.

Stephen has Downs Syndrome with ears bent slightly forward and eyes set slightly back and he screams to his Uncle Patrick who he obviously adores, "I know she's tempting but she's married."

Sarah's been adopted into an Irish family and Uncle Patrick is hitting on her.

I'm lost in the music not paying them any attention at all.

Wandering into Dunloe Lodge, a Pub in Kilaraney Ireland filled with families finishing up Sunday, Soccer teams done playing and lonely men looking for lonely women as they sit waiting for another drink before deciding.

Sarah's laughter is a magical thing and draws me away from the music to them.

Laughing with Stephen's mother arm draped over her shoulder Sarah delights being the center of attention.

In addition to being adored by the Irish, Mike and his Canadian tourist friends are also hitting on Sarah.

"If her husband has to take you outside," Stephen laughs, "I don't have your back!"

"What about that French lady?" Uncle Patrick points to a woman sitting at the bar.

Stephen looks at her then back to Sarah and Patrick, "NO! She's just nice."

The woman looks away annoyed at the pronouncement.

The band has the crowd in a frenzy playing old Irish songs everyone knows and sings. A guitar, accordion and bass are ministers of ancient things and couples twirl madly to the music in the crowd. Pints of Guinness are everywhere. It is a wild ending to Sunday and I wonder how everyone goes to work tomorrow.

When they break the bass player makes straight to me, robustly shakes my hand asking, "You're a player aren't ye? Why don't ye come on up and sing us one?"

Suddenly filled with pride, I break into a grin while shaking my head from side to side.

"No, you are owning the place! We're honored just to be here."

The old man grins and hugs me before disappearing in the crowd.

Sarah's laughter joins the choir of Patrick, Stephen and his mother.

Irish Pubs are like attending family reunions where long lost cousins delight in finding one another again in joyous celebration. We're the only Americans in the room though it seems we're Irish tonight, embraced by a people who easily laugh infecting us with a joy rarely seen back home.