Charming the in-laws

Curtis

My mother liked to tell stories of what a naughty boy I was growing up—at least the ones she could remember. While most of them sounded exaggerated, I believed her. I got into a lot of trouble until I learned how to make her smile so hard she would forget to punish me, then I would always get away with a slap on my wrist.

I was using the same skill on Angelica’s Nana. Even I was surprised how well it was working out. After giving her an indirect compliment, she glared at me but her new version of a glare was mild compared to that blazing look she had given me when I walked in with her granddaughter.

Since I had a headstart, I decided to throw in one of the old-fashioned ones. “So, Nana, how would you like to take a walk outside? It must be boring staying all cooped up in here all day, staring at the same things.”

“The doctor won’t let me. I keep telling him I’m fine!” She grumbled. This was my chance.

“I’ll have a talk with him.” I said, then I added, “but you may want to