“”No one would let me talk,’ Laurie says.

“‘What do you mean? Of course they let you talk.’

“‘No. They’re all just talking constantly and I never get a chance to say anything.’

“‘But Laurie, that’s what happens at dinner parties. You’ve got eight people fueled by a lot of alcohol and they all are clamoring for the floor. That’s just the way it is.’

“‘I didn’t get to speak. I hated it. Why won’t they let me speak?’

I’m puzzled. Laurie was always the life of any get-together: raucous, loud, leading the room from one topic to the next. What was going on?

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