On a warm Southern afternoon, two well-dressed women sat on the huge porch of a big estate with white pillars. The light shined through the trees as they drank tea that tasted great and adhered to the glass and their souls. The first lady smiled with joy as she gazed out at the huge yard. She had on soft pastels and pearls.
With a contented nod, she said, “My husband built me this beautiful mansion when our first child was born.” She glanced at the well-kept grass as if it were a gift from her father.
The second woman, who looked just as sophisticated but with a hint of mischief in her eyes, grinned and added, “Well, isn’t that nice?”
Because her friend was polite, the first woman kept talking. “Then, when our second child was born, he bought me that beautiful Cadillac you saw out front.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet?” The second lady spoke again, and her voice was smooth like molasses.
“And when our third came along,” the first lady added, holding up her hand in pride, “he gave me this beautiful diamond bracelet.” It really does reflect the light.
The second lady spoke her now-famous remarks again: “Well, isn’t that nice?”
The first woman, who suddenly became intrigued, tilted her head. “Tell me what your husband gave you when your first child was born.”
With a sly smile on her lips, the second woman leaned in and murmured softly, “He sent me to charm school.”
“School of Charm?” What is its purpose?
The second lady straightened her back, drank some tea, and added, “I learnt how to say, “Well, isn’t that nice?” instead of saying, “Who cares?”
A lot of people were laughing on the porch.
Their chat got more personal as the sun began to fall and they made more tea later that day.
One of them said, “You know, we’ve known each other for a long time, but I never asked what happened to your son.” She moved about in her wicker chair.
“Oh, my poor boy,” her friend said in a mournful voice. “His marriage is a complete disaster.” He got a girl who won’t help him with anything around the house. She sleeps, reads, and does nothing all day in bed. And here’s the best part: he makes her breakfast in bed every morning.
The other individual shook her head and said, “That’s terrible.”
“But what about my kid?” The woman kept talking, and her voice got better. “Oh, she’s very lucky. She has married a man from the sky. He tells her to relax. He doesn’t want her to do anything. Every morning, he wakes her up with breakfast in bed, lets her sleep in, and tells her not to worry about anything.
Her friend stopped for a second, blinked, and then said with a knowing smile, “Well, isn’t that nice?”
It’s not only what you say; it’s also how you say it.
