For a long time, she paid no attention to her husband who was sitting in a corner quietly getting drunk. This was one time Tom was not enjoying the attentions other men paid to his wife. As he downed, one Scotch after another, though, the world looked gradually rosier, until he was feeling on top of the world. Until he decided to share his good feelings with the gathering.
"Hey, everybody…" he called out in a drunken slur. "Whatta ya say we put some life in this here party!"
He climbed up on the coffee table and took off his suit jacket, while he struggled to perform some kind of hip-grinding dance. He wasn't far into the routine when the force of his weight collapsed the coffee table. Tom was catapulted forward. He slammed into the bar, upsetting several glasses and a couple of liquor bottles.
Heather was horror-stuck by her husband's performance. She had had no idea he was that drunk. She had never seen him act like this before, in all the five years of their marriage.
She rushed to his side and helped him to his feet. She guided him to a chair and pushed him down into it. He sat sullenly, not looking at her.
"They don't make anything like they used to," he muttered.
Blushing with embarrassment, Heather bent down to help her hostess pick up the shattered glass and mop up the spilled liquor. "Linda, I'm so sorry. I don't know what got into Tom. He's not himself tonight."
Linda, a pretty blonde in her early thirties, smiled reassuringly at her friend. "Don't worry, honey. We all have our off days." She grimaced, "It's just my bad luck that Tom had to have his at my party."
Heather looked on the verge of tears. The older woman reached over and tilted her chin up. Her blue eyes looked frankly into Heather's green ones.
"Look, honey. I'm not going to pretend I'm not pissed off, because I am. But it's not your fault, so don't worry. I'm sure I'll feel better as soon as we get this mess cleaned up."
When the damage was swept away, Heather gathered up her coat and Tom's jacket and prepared to leave. Linda tried to talk her into staying.
"Don't go yet, honey. You were having a good time, Tom's just going to fall asleep. Why don't you let him do it here, while you enjoy yourself." They looked over at Heather's husband who was dozing in his chair.
"No… no, I couldn't stay now, Linda." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Things aren't very good between Tom and me right now. We shouldn't have come and spoiled your good time. Come on, Tom. We're going now."
She tried to pull him to his feet. He was a dead weight. He was awake now, but he wasn't looking at Heather.