“Babe, does this dress make me look fat?”
Raised by a single mother and two older sisters, I’ve been around women long enough to know that this is a trick question. Answer too quickly and she’s sure to accuse me of lying to appease her. Tell her what she’s in denial of—that it indeed does make her look fat—then I’ll receive a clean slap across the face, and dinner at Shondra’s will be canceled.
I clear my throat. “Well—”
“Oh my god!” she shrieks and storms past me.
Note to self, don’t take too long to answer.
© Nortina Simmons
Nortina's Writing Inspiration Well 