Cracks on the wall.

On a sweltering summer day, Quick-tongue visited his friends in their work place. Due to closeness, the friends started airing the difficulties they were having with one of their bosses. Quick-tongue sympathetically heard them for awhile. One of the friends, in exasperation said “I think he has become a crack

due to this summer heat”. At this point, the Boss suddenly entered and on hearing the word crack became very serious and asked to know “who is the crack?”

Friends were really taken aback and were at a loss to handle the mess they have just created by uttering the word crack.

Years back, Quick-tongue also had gotten into a similar mess for uttering an innocent comment in a mess hall. Drawing up on that experience, he had the presence of mind to reply that they were discussing about the appearance of cracks in the concrete wall.

Quick-tongue then had to really survey the concrete wall to show a very minor invisible crack on the cement plastering. Though not fully convinced, this mollified the Boss a little.

Friends thanked and gave a treat to quick-tongue for his presence of mind!

[The narrative though set in a specific environment , could have taken place in a property developer's office. This setting helps the reader spin their own yarn :) ]