The Pepper

No easy way...

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The couple had been friends forever before they got married. They finished each other’s lines and knew what the other was thinking.

When Andrea struck up a conversation with a new neighbor, Devon was nearby and joined in, Andrea introducing him. Andrea never had a problem keeping a conversation going for any length of time in any situation.

Fortunately, Devon was the direct opposite personality type and rarely spoke to others he didn’t know well. The couple was the text book example of opposites being attracted to one other.

On this occasion, Andrea spoke to their new neighbor, Fiona, about things to watch out for, stores, malls, theaters, churches, and annual neighborhood get-togethers. She probed Fiona for her past history, where she came from, what she did, family, where she grew up, everything to get a 3D perspective. Not nosy, just curious.

After they had spoken half an hour, Fiona said she needed to tend to her children and husband, but looked forward to being a part of the neighborhood.

As Andrea and Devon returned home, Devon said, “Shouldn’t have had that sub for lunch, Andrea.”

It was an odd statement after the neighborly conversation.

“Sub? What? Why not?”

“Lady, you’ve got to pay more attention to your surroundings. You didn’t see me gyrating and waving my hands and flailing about over there while you were talking with her?”

“Oh, don’t exaggerate,” Andrea said. “Why were you trying to get my attention?”

“Look at me and smile.”

Andrea did.

“Yep. Still there. You had a large pepper right smack in the middle of your two front teeth.”

Andrea rubbed her tongue over her upper gums and smacked Devon on the upper arm. “What? You didn’t tell me about that and I droned on to our nice new neighbor?”

“Couldn’t get a word in edgewise, Dearest, and didn’t want to embarrass you in front of her.”

“So, instead you allowed me to embarrass myself in front of her the whole time? Next time, Devon, just get my attention and tell me flat out.”

“But that’s how Fiona will always remember you by.”

True, but wrong answer.