Bette put the dishes in the dishwasher and figured out how to turn it on. She washed up the skillet and wiped down the counter and the table. And then she decided she needed a reading session herself. She picked up her cell phone and headed to the public restrooms just behind the reception desk.

When Tina came back to the kitchen, she did not see Bette. She immediately thought about her in-process paintings, so she made a beeline for her studio room.  The lights were out and it was obvious that no one had been in the room. As she came back to the reception area, Bette was emerging from the ladies’ room.

Bette:  Sorry, mother nature calls.

Tina:  Yeah, she does. Are you ready to do some shopping?

Bette:  Yeah, I’m ready.

Tina and Bette put the suitcase and the laundry basket into the car, made sure all the lights were out and adjusted the thermostat on the air conditioner and headed out. Bette, before they got to Walmart, Tina confessed that she thought Bette might have been trying to sneak a peek at her paintings. Bette looked at Tina.

Bette:  Tina, do you really think that I would do something like that when I have already promised you that I would not? The fact is, I never even thought about taking a peek.

Tina: I’m sorry. I’m just a little protective of my work at the moment and I know how much you love art work.  And if I were in your shoes, I know I would want to have a look.

Bette:  Do I want to see your work?  Oh, absolutely. But I am NOT going to see it until you show it to me. Period. This is your work and you creation. You get to determine who see its and when. The end. That’s the way it is.

Tina: You know, you are the most patient person I know. Why do others always see you as impatient and demanding? You know I cannot think of a single instance where you demanded that I do something that I didn’t want to do. When you have made a request and if I said no. That was the end of it. And if it were something you really wanted, you might come back some time later, re-phrase the request and ask a second time. But not once did you say anything like “I insist” or “you have to” or “you promised”.  Do you know how amazing that is?