By Jim Mullen

“What is that?” Sue asked. We were looking into a UPS box we had just received from our friends the Fergusons. The Fergusons had just spent a lovely weekend with us – lovely for them, anyway.

“What does the note say?” I carefully reached into the box, trying to avoid all the vicious metal edges of the mysterious object inside and pulled out piece of Beverly Ferguson’s stationery.

“Thanks for being such kind and gracious hosts, we really enjoyed our weekend with you. So few of our friends seem to have any free time to see us any more. It’s funny, the more free time we get, the busier everyone else seems to get.

“I’m sure, in his own way, even if he doesn’t verbalize it, that Cartier is very sorry about breaking that ugly statue of yours. But really, should you leave something like that locked in your bedroom closet where anyone could accidentally knock it over? I know he’s joking, but Burt says Cartier probably increased its value. Look how much those broken Roman statues are worth. No one wants a whole one.