[ WP ] Sitcom characters become horrifically aware of ﻿the laugh track , limited amount of rooms , actors being replaced , and the universe continually resetting ﻿the show status quo regardless of their actions .

`` Hey hey hey!'' Jeffery burst into the room as he always did. Laughter erupted around him, as it always did. 
 
 David shot an uneasy glance at him, but Jeffery did n't quite notice. It was n't in his nature to see the world that way. The smile on his face put David back at ease for a moment. 
 
 `` How've ya been, buddy?'' Jeffery asked. 
 
 `` The same as always,'' David replied. This cued Margot to walk in with her birdcage. 
 
 `` Hey, Margot!'' Jeffery nearly yelled. `` Whatcha got there?'' 
 
 `` It's my bird Sandy. She's not feeling too good right now though, fellas. I think she might have the flu.'' 
 
 `` You mean bird flu?'' Jeffery asked. Laughter erupted. David scooted back in his seat, ready to bolt, but no one else seemed to care. 
 
 `` I think when a bird gets the flu, it's just the flu,'' Margot said. `` I do n't know how to help her though.'' 
 
 The three went into the living room to set the birdcage on the coffee table. Each of them looked intently at Sandy, who was n't moving at all. She just stared off into nothingness, shining like plastic. Jeffery smiled at his friends. 
 
 `` Say, let's forget about the bird for now and head down to the diner. I heard Mac and Donna are headed there after they get done studying,'' Jeffery said. 
 
 `` I do n't wan na go there. We always go there,'' David said. 
 
 `` No! We're going to the diner, David,'' Jeffery rested a hand on David's shoulder. The two stared at each other until Jeffery relented. `` Besides, where else would we go?'' 
 
 `` Anywhere...'' 
 
 People were at the diner, as they always were. Eating french fries and hamburgers, pretending to talk to one another without saying anything at all. Some of them fake laughing, some of them fake eating. None of them looked at the trio when the walked in. 
 
 `` Hey, gang!'' Donna said from their usual booth. Clapping erupted as Mac came into frame. Everyone loved Mac. 
 
 Conversations went on about school and homework and godawful teachers. David could n't keep up with any of it. His eyes kept wandering from table to table, wondering how so many people could be pretending. At first, he imagined them all to be robots, since they were always there at the same time every day; right after Mac and Donna got done studying. 
 
 Not until Jeffery laid a hand on his forearm did David snap back in. The entire table was looking at him with smiles. 
 
 `` What?'' he asked. 
 
 `` We were gon na head back to the house to take a look at the bird. Mac says he knows a way to cheer her up,'' Jeffery said. 
 
 `` Alright...'' David said. 
 
 `` You alright, buddy? You seem kind of out of it,'' Mac asked. Jeffery grasped David's forearm hard, pulling the tiny hairs enough to make David wince. 
 
 `` Yeah. Fine.'' 
 
 They got back to the house in less than three minutes. An incredible feat for a fifteen minute drive. Especially since none of them had cars. Margot was a mess over in the corner, worrying over her sick bird. 
 
 `` You know what, guys,'' David said. `` I do n't feel too well. I think I'm gon na go to bed.'' 
 
 `` You ca n't go to bed, David,'' Jeffery said. `` You ca n't disrupt our day.'' 
 
 `` What do you mean?'' David asked. 
 
 `` We still have to help the bird.'' 
 
 `` I'm not a bird doctor! I do n't know anything about helping birds. There's nothing I can do to help you.'' 
 
 `` Whoa, tiger,'' Donna said. Laughter filled the room. David twitched. 
 
 `` Relax, David,'' Mac said without looking. 
 
 `` Yeah, David,'' Jeffery closed in on David, pressing him up against the wall. `` Relax. Everything is normal.'' 
 
 `` Everything is always normal. Everything is always the same.'' 
 
 `` If you do n't calm down,'' Jeffery lifted an eyebrow, `` I'm gon na have to call Principal Morris.'' 
 
 `` Why would you call our principal to come solve this problem!? He's got nothing to do with how I feel right now. I just am feeling weird and would like to go to bed please.'' 
 
 `` Hey there, neighbor!'' Principal Morris said through the kitchen window. Applause erupted. David tried to run. `` I just came by to bring you some peaches from my garden.'' 
 
 Principal Morris walked into the living room. Margot was beside herself, crying over her sick bird. Mac and Donna were taking turns staring at the bird while the other one stared at David and Jeffery, who were pushing each other back and forth. Jeffery finally pushed David hard enough to knock a painting off the wall. 
 
 `` Hey now, kids,'' Principal Morris said while he made his way over to David. `` What's going on in here?'' 
 
 `` David knows,'' Jeffery calmly turned around. 
 
 `` Huh?'' Mac asked, who was switching from the bird to Jeffery and David. 
 
 `` Well, shit,'' Principal Morris was just behind Jeffery. He dropped his peaches, grabbed a lamp from a nearby table and swung it against David's head. Things went black. 
 
 `` Hey hey hey!'' Jeffery burst into the room as he always did. Laughter erupted, as it always did.
