Mary frowns when her kids and mine run outside to bang pots and pans on New Year’s Eve.
I’ve had a couple drinks, so I go ahead and run my mouth.
“It’s okay, Mary,” I say, “let the kids have their fun.”
My neighbor shakes her head. “They better not lose that cast iron,” she says, “It’s my insurance policy.”
I turn to her, puzzled.
Something flickers in Mary’s eyes. A decision. Just as she opens her mouth, her husband, Carl, steps into the room.
Mary ducks her head and clamps her mouth shut—and I know what she means.
© Copyright 2020 by Jim Latham
Photo by Hans Vivek on Unsplash