The loudest thing in the room

“You and your partner are getting ready for a housewarming party tonight — ironing something, looking for shoes, the usual pre-going-out scramble. This afternoon you RSVP'd 'no' to a wedding invitation on behalf of both of you, assuming you were on the same page. You weren't. They saw the email confirmation come through, looked at you, said 'oh — okay,' and have been moving through the bedroom in total silence ever since. You're both still getting ready for tonight like nothing happened.”