I had just been promoted at work, which provided the perfect conversational diversionary tactic. Driving to a ward holiday party, my mom and I practiced the strategy. If someone says this, we’ll just say this to change the subject to the promotion. And if someone says this, we’ll just bring up this to get the conversation around to something else. We were prepared for anything. The plan was fool-proof.
Our execution was flawless and I was actually enjoying myself, when we were approached by my mom’s friend, we’ll call her Irene. Irene’s daughter, let’s call her Beth, was due to be married a few weeks later, and was also at the party with her intended. Irene seemed, well, a little harried. Ever the diplomat, my mom started the conversation off like this: “Well, Beth looks lovely tonight.”