The Truth at Full Volume

"How much was that ring of hers?"

At my wedding, Michelle's voice suddenly boomed through the speakers.

Every guest in the hall immediately looked up at the sound system on both sides of the stage.

Michael's voice followed: "Six thousand."

"Only six thousand?" Michelle's laughter was amplified by the microphone. "The one you bought me was a hundred and twenty thousand."

"How can they compare?" Michael coaxed. "Yours was custom-made just for you. Hers was something I won in a mall raffle."

Center stage, the champagne flute in my hand trembled.