[Jane and Sue] fall under the category of Hugh’s guests. This means that though I play my role, it’s not my responsibility to entertain them. Yes, I offer the occasional drink. I show up for meals, but can otherwise come and go at my leisure, exiting, sometimes, as someone is in the middle of a sentence. My father has done this all his life. You’ll be talking to him and he’ll walk away—not angry, but just sort of finished with you. I was probably six years old the first time I noticed this. You’d think I’d have found it hurtful, but instead I looked at his retreating back thinking, We can get away with that? Really? Yippee!

David Sedaris, “Company Man”