Before going away on vacation for a month, Sue asks her sister Mary to take care of her cat, Fluffy. Mary says OK and Sue leaves. After a week, Sue calls to check on Fluffy.

Sue: How's my cat?

Mary: I'm sorry, Sis--Fluffy was hit by a car and died.

Sue: Oh, no! You're so insensitive. How could you just spring that on me?

Mary: What do you mean?

Sue: Well, you could have said, "The cat's missing and we can't find her." Then the next day you could say, "We found her. She's on the roof, and we can't get her down." The next day: " We got her down but she is quite ill." Then, "She's in the hospital--its touch and go," and finally, "We did all we could, but she died in her sleep." That way I would have been prepared: I would have been ready.

Mary: I'm sorry, Sue; I'll try to be more sensitive.

Sue: Thanks. How's Mom?

Mary: Mom's on the roof, and we can't get her down.