MAGPIE TALE: Nobody Dared

Another entry in the Magpie Tales.

When Brent and Jennifer invited everyone over for the big reveal of their dining room redo, everyone marveled at what a wonderful job that had done.

"I really want to know who your colorist is," Brenda said.

"It's called Terracotta Thunder," Jennifer said.

"Really so rich. Manly yet regal," Bevin was quick to add.

Nobody dared. Mention. It. Even though the second they were in their cars and not even backed out of the drive, each couple stared at each other and said. "Could you believe it?"

Well, this certainly wasn't the first time they had ignored something connected to Brent and Jennifer. Susan had seen him with that awful woman sitting so close to him at the boat club last summer. And when Jennifer produced yet another putrid soup, everyone took a couple scoops and said it was delicious, and Jennifer didn't make a comment a few minutes later when she removed their still full bowls of soup. "How was it?"

"Terrific as always, Jennifer. What's your secret."

Todd and Theresa drove in silence until Theresa finally said, "Well, at least it's not as if he had some animal head on the wall. They're just weapons. Mock weapons, I'm sure."

"Don't make excuses for him, Terri. And for all we know it might be Jennifer's. You know how odd she can be."

"I'm not making excuses. Can't you give me the benefit of the doubt?"

Meanwhile as they cleared the table, Jennifer finally let loose a joyous laugh. "Did you see them? Just how hard they strained to keep smiling and not look?"

"You really outdid yourself this time, Jen. Your best presentation yet. Just imagine what must be going on as they get ready for bed and keep discussing it. Every last little prim pair of them, daring to say everything they wouldn't dare to say here."

Jennifer let a satisfied grin fill her face as she lifted the heavy soup tureen and poured its contents down the drain. "Entertaining can be so entertaining...when you have a certain flair."