“What’s the matter, Jan,” Alana asked while maneuvering her new
SUV through suburban traffic, “you haven’t said three words since
we left home, and if I didn’t know better I’d say that you look a
little flushed.” Lost in though, Jan didn’t even acknowledge
Alana’s question until she felt her friend give her a poke in the
ribs and repeat her question. “Uh, oh sorry, I wasn’t paying
attention,” Jan replied, “I was just thinking.” “Thinking,” she
shot back, “about what, for god’s sakes, we’re two women of age and
we’re going shopping using our husband’s money, now tell me, what
in the heck could be better than that?” Jan threw her head back
and gave a short laugh but then replied staidly, “Well, I guess I
am a little bit in the dumps, Hank had to leave the house early
today and I just miss him that’s all.” They drove in silence for
a minute or so until Alana offered, “So you missed out on your
morning sugar, huh?” Jan looked over at her friend and just
rolled her eyes before saying, “You’re incorrigible, do you know
that?” Alana made a show of acting hurt and answered, “Me, what
ever are you talking about, all I did was make a perfectly
reasonable observation, nothing more or nothing less, that’s
all.”