Kate cannot wait to spend the holidays with her son and his wife — it’s her first Christmas with the family. But when Liz criticizes her cooking, and John chooses silence over defending his mother, will the holidays be ruined?
I was always the feeder — especially after I got married, it was always me cooking for every family dinner and during the major holidays, like Christmas. But after Oliver, my husband, passed, I lost hold of that part of me.
Now, I barely cook, just enough to keep myself going, and barely that.
Except during the holidays because this is when my son, John, comes for his annual roast dinner. And then, it’s time for me to shine. But this year, things got very heated in the kitchen.
This was the first year with Liz, John’s wife, joining us. When they were dating, she always went home to her parents instead of visiting us. Which, I’ll admit, is fair because being with your family is everything during the holidays. Anyway, I was intrigued to see how Liz would mix with the rest of our family for the day.
Person chopping vegetables | Source: Unsplash
I got up early and began the Christmas meal, knowing that it would be an early dinner with many side dishes and different desserts to follow. I made the usual Christmas dinner that we’ve done for years — chicken, with roasted potatoes and gravy being the main attraction, but with lots of little dishes. Things that John loved.
But Liz? Oh, she definitely wasn’t a fan.
I was putting the final touches on the chicken when Liz strolled into the kitchen, cell phone in hand, eyeing my cooking. She looked around the kitchen with an expression that looked like she had smelt something terrible. I tried to ignore her because I was already sweating away.
Roast chicken on plates | Source: Pexels
Then, she hit me with a line that slammed through me. “Hey, Kate,” she said, “maybe we should order food. Not everyone wants what you’ve cooked. I don’t know if everyone enjoys your cooking, either. Every aspect of Christmas is supposed to be enjoyed by everyone. They should enjoy the food, too!”
I was completely blindsided by her words.
I saw John leaning against the archway, nibbling on a carrot. He altogether avoided my gaze, looking over me and out the window across the room. I held back my tears and bit my lip.
Family get together | Source: Pexels
The guests were almost all present, sitting all over the house, and I didn’t want to put a damper on the dinner, even if Liz had hurt me. Dinner rolled around, and the table groaned beneath the weight of the food. My guests, John included, were digging in and singing praises for the food I had been cooking for most of the day.
“The food’s great, right? Everyone’s enjoying it?” John asked the table.
His uncle laughed and helped himself to another serving of roasted potatoes. “Why wouldn’t we enjoy my sister’s food?” my brother said.
“Because Liz said that the dinner might be ruined by Mom’s dishes. She wanted us to order in.”
“Nonsense!” my brother exclaimed, drowning his potatoes in gravy.
Roasted potatoes | Source: Pexels
John looked at me and smiled. Which was when I realized that my sweet boy’s silence wasn’t meant to hurt me. No. He was trying to bide his time until he could teach Liz a lesson and embarrass her in front of our family.
Liz turned red from his comment as everyone stared at her. I’ll admit that I felt bad for her. It was her first Christmas with us, and already, it wasn’t looking promising.
Later on, when I was in the kitchen again, packing the dishwasher and emptying dishes of food, Liz came in.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” my daughter-in-law said. “I was so wrong to do what I did. I am sorry, please understand.”
“Understand what?” I asked her.
I did feel bad, yes. But I was still hurt.
Loaded dishwasher | Source: Pexels
“I only said that because John loves your food. He always talks about how you make all these special things for him. I can’t make a basic mac and cheese without him saying yours is better. I looked at the food, smelt all the delicious smells from this kitchen, and panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food is a relationship in and of itself,” I laughed, trying to diffuse the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me. My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” she asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” I said with a softening smile.
Then, I led her to the Christmas tree, ready to give Liz her present.
I still think the whole thing hurts me, but I’m grateful she didn’t say what she said for a nasty reason. Liz felt threatened by John’s relationship with my food instead of fostering a relationship with Liz’s cooking.
But I can teach her.
Christmas present wrapped with red thread | Source: Pexels
If the same thing had happened to you, what would you have done? Would you have been silent until the truth came out, like me? Or would you have retaliated immediately?
Find Mitten, Comb, Nail, Egg
Are you ready for a fun and tricky challenge? This puzzle is designed to test your attention to detail and observational skills. Somewhere in this seemingly normal image, a mitten, comb, nail, and egg are cleverly hidden.
Can you find them all? Take a close look at the image before scrolling down to the explanations. Think you have sharp eyes? Let’s find out!
Why Are Hidden Object Puzzles So Challenging?
At first glance, the image might seem completely normal. However, the four hidden objects have been blended into the scene so well that they can be easily overlooked.
Many people make common mistakes when solving puzzles like this. One of the biggest mistakes is scanning too quickly. Many people rush through the image, assuming they will immediately recognize the hidden items. However, the brain naturally filters out distractions, making it easy to miss small details.
Another common mistake is focusing only on expected locations. Some players only look for objects in obvious places, but hidden object puzzles use misdirection to trick you. Not checking textures and patterns is another issue. Designers often disguise objects within textures, such as blending an item into clothing or a background element.
Ignoring unusual shapes can also be a mistake. If something doesn’t look quite right, there’s a good chance it’s one of the hidden objects. Now that you know why these puzzles are tricky, let’s break down how to find each hidden object step by step.
Video : Can you find it
Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Hidden Objects
Let’s analyze the image carefully and reveal where each hidden object is located.
The mitten is hidden in an unexpected spot. Look at the man sitting down on the right side. If you focus on his left foot, you’ll notice something green that doesn’t quite fit. That’s right—it’s a mitten! It is tricky to find because the mitten is blended into his shoe, making it appear as part of his footwear.
The comb is cleverly disguised in the clothing. Shift your attention to the man in the red jacket standing in the middle. Look closely at the bottom of his jacket—it doesn’t look normal, does it? The jacket’s fringe is actually a comb! The tricky part is that the teeth of the comb align perfectly with the jacket’s design, making it nearly invisible at first glance.
The nail is well hidden within the background. Now, take a look at the bathroom divider pole between the two urinals. Notice the top part of the pole? That’s not just a normal fixture—it’s actually a nail! It is hard to see because the nail’s shape and color match the surroundings, making it blend in perfectly.
The egg is the most unexpected of all. Turn your attention to the man on the left side of the image. Look at his nostril—does something seem off? That’s because his nose is actually an egg! The reason this is tricky is that the egg is the same color as skin, making it extremely hard to spot.
How Many Did You Find?
This puzzle tests your ability to notice details that others might miss. Some objects were cleverly hidden within textures, while others blended into their surroundings.
If you managed to find all four objects without looking at the answers, congratulations! You have an exceptional eye for detail. If you missed a few, don’t worry—these puzzles are designed to train your brain and improve your observational skills.
Video : Find the Animal Game
Challenge Your Friends!
Think you did a great job? Share this puzzle with your friends and see if they can find all the hidden objects too.
Comment below with how many objects you found before looking at the answers.
Tag a friend and challenge them to beat your score.
Try more hidden object puzzles to test your observation skills and train your brain.
Are you ready for the next challenge? Stay tuned for more puzzles that will test your skills!
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