A Game I'm Not Very Good At

I just don't get communication games. You know, where people say one thing but mean another. I'm not good at deciphering the language, so I just refuse to play. I say what I mean, and I take people's words at face value. Sometimes that means I offend people. And sometimes it makes for awkward social situations.

This year we were invited by an extended family member to celebrate Thanksgiving at her house. All of my siblings were invited as well, meaning it would be a large group. I asked what I could bring to offset the costs of putting on such a big shindig. The hostess poo-poohed that idea, insisting that she enjoyed entertaining and we really didn't need to bring a thing. I talked to her again the week before Thanksgiving and offered again. Again she refused.

So I believed her.

Come Thanksgiving Day, we drove the three hours to her house, and were the first to arrive. My sister came soon after and her husband and three children trooped into the house. Each bearing a beautiful flaky homemade pie.

Awkward.

I felt like a freeloader, even though the hostess had insisted (twice) that she didn't need/want any help with the meal. Somehow my sister either got different directions or just insisted more convincingly that she was going to help.

I guess taking people at their word, face value and all that, is naive and foolish.

But it sure is cheaper.