BACK TO THE MOTEL
To see how all of the STATE skills fit together in a touchy conversation, let’s return to the motel bill. Only this time, Carole does a far better job of bringing up a delicate issue.
BOB: Hi, Honey, how was your day?
CAROLE: Not so good.
BOB: Why’s that?
CAROLE: I was checking our credit card bill, and I noticed a charge of forty-eight dollars for the Good Night Motel down the street. [Shares facts]
BOB: Boy, that sounds wrong.
CAROLE: It sure does.
BOB: Well, don’t worry. I’ll check into it one day when I’m going by.
CAROLE: I’d feel better if we checked right now.
BOB: Really? It’s less than fifty bucks. It can wait.
CAROLE: It’s not the money that has me worried.
BOB: You’re worried?
CAROLE: It’s a motel down the street. ...
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