Bluffing Didn'T Work

Just a couple months ago my wife and I were sitting, Both with old and tired feet submerged, out on the dock. She wrapped one arm around my back and softly said to me, “Fred, do you remember what we did on…Eagle Rock?” I looked at her with blank dismay and asked her, “Eagle Rock? I guess it sounds familiar, but it must have been a while.” “It has,” she giggled, “but I’ll bet…if you just think real hard, I’m sure you haven’t quite forgotten.” Then I saw the smile. “Oh…you mean that. Of course I do,” I answered, cautiously, “I told you that I loved you…and we kissed a thousand times. I courted you with flowers from the lake beside the mountain, And showered you with petals, and recited little rhymes.” I felt her body stiffen as she turned and glared at me. “I hope you’re only teasing,” she said crisply, in my ear. She firmly squeezed my hand and then she slowly looked around, And after making sure that there was no one else to hear, “How could you forget,” she snapped. “That night is very special.” I started getting nervous as her grip was growing tight. By now her face was very close -- our noses nearly touching. “Let’s see,” I said, “I know that we were up there most the night.” She had nearly crushed my hand when she would scowl and say, “Well…this is something I didn’t think I’d ever live to see.” I knew that I had better get this right, and took her face And told her, “Dear, of course I do…well, that’s where you and me, “Well, you know what we did, my pet. That night was very special. Why…there’s no way I could forget,” and gave a little wink. (My mind was still betraying me as I would sense her anger, But what I said had calmed her down…and gave me time to think.) “Well,” she yelled, “let’s hear it Fred...what was it that we did?” She now was right up in my face, and totally enraged. “Are you kidding,” I just laughed, “I knew it all along. That night…up there on Eagle Rock…is when we got engaged. “You asked if I would marry you. And you thought I’d forgot.” “Oh my God,” she screamed out loud, “who are you tryin’ to kid? You did forget, you worthless slug. How can you lie like this?” (She’d realized, at last, that I’d forgotten what we did.) “Can’t you give me just a hint?” I asked her timidly. (I never really figured out just what the “did” thing was.) I threw my arms around her, and I pulled her close to me, And told her what I needed to....like any husband does Who's made a really big mistake. I told her I felt bad, And I was very sorry I’d forgotten “Eagle Rock.” But, even though I’d done my best, the bluffing didn’t work. She spun around and slapped my face......then pushed me off the dock!