The Mother In Law and the Two Ties

Mark was notoriously nervous about his mother-in-law, Eleanor, coming to visit for the weekend. To show he was making a real effort, he decided to dress up for her arrival. He went out and bought two expensive silk ties—one a deep navy blue and the other a bright, cheerful red.

When Eleanor finally walked through the front door, Mark was standing there with a nervous grin, proudly wearing the navy blue tie. He gave her a hug and asked, "Eleanor, it is so good to see you! Do you like the tie? I bought it specifically for your visit."

Eleanor squinted at the silk fabric, adjusted her glasses, and let out a long, disappointed sigh. She looked him up and down with a judgmental frown and said, "I see."

Mark felt his heart sink. "Is something wrong? You don't like the blue one?"

Eleanor crossed her arms and replied coldly, "No, it’s fine, Mark. I just figured you hated the red one."