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Imagine attending the famous, or should I say
infamous, Halloween Party where William
Peabody was murdered. When you receive
your photo, please tell us a story about what is
happening. Are you ready? This will be exciting.”
She glanced from one person to the next and
settled on Rich.
“Rich, please tell us about this photo.” Laura
held up an 8x10 image for the members to see
before she passed it to Rich. He stood up, glanced
at the photo, and began to speak. The photo was
of Penny dressed in her Cleopatra costume. Rich
“Penny, it’s almost time to call the meeting laid it on thick and Penny beamed with pride.
to order,” Laura nudged. Penny took her place Laura handed the next photo to Terry. She
behind the lectern as the others made their way smiled at the face of her much younger mother
to the dining room table. She called the meeting in a poodle skirt. In her speech she described
to order and turned control over to Terry, the a fun-loving young woman with her whole life
Toastmaster for the evening. ahead of her.
Laura studied the members as Carl gave his “John, I have one for you.” She and John locked
speech on the joys of fly fishing. Her role was eyes as she handed him the photo. He stared at
Table Topics Master, one she enjoyed. They would the photo, blinking repeatedly, before he cleared
serve a different purpose tonight as she hoped to his throat and started.
gather valuable information about the murder “Fellow Toastmasters, my photo is that of two
of William Peabody. devils. There was a mix up at the costume rental
“Please welcome our Table Topics Master shop. Imagine the surprise when they ran into
Laura Larson,” Terry announced and led each other at the party. They had a lot of good
the applause. Laura shook hands with the laughs.” As soon as the green light came on John
Toastmaster and took her place behind the wrapped it up and sat down with a look of relief
lectern. on his face. Table Topics weren’t his favorite.
“Since we are meeting at Peabody Mansion, I “Mark, would you like to try one?”
thought it would be fun to make that the theme “Sure, why not?”
for Table Topics. Each of you will speak about Laura handed him a photo. He studied
a photo. They have been in the possession of it before he stood up and shared it with the
the Historical Society for the past thirty years. members.
VOICES! | MARCH 2023 29
