Greetings, Miss Manners The dentist and the hygienist started talking in-depth about their weekend plans while I was there for a cleaning.
A gap in their talk made me think I had made a mistake by listening in on them, so I laughed when one of them said something amusing—as much as I can while I have a tool in my mouth.
Should I act like I’m a piece of the furniture going forward?
PERSONAL READER: Or perhaps more akin to watering or pruning a plant?
Miss Manners believes the hygienist and dentist believed you were listening in, just like all those individuals who shout into their phones in public and then glare at onlookers.
You weren’t.
Actually, by reminding them that there was another person there, you might have done them a favor. Otherwise, believing their patient was sedated, they might have said something awful.
Pretend you need a rinse and that you were coughing if this occurs to you again.
***
(Questions can be sent to Miss Manners via email at [email protected], her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
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