You can build an SMS app that responds with terrible festive jokes and one-liners to quickly break awkward silences, using Node.js, Koa framework, Vonage Messages API, a virtual phone number, and Ngrok for exposure. To get started, clone the repository, configure the app by setting up a Vonage API account, creating a virtual phone number, and linking it to the app. The app will then receive new SMS messages and respond with jokes and one-liners, breaking the tension. Once set up, you can deploy the app to a server like Heroku with minimal code changes.