Read Online You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled by Parnell Hall - Free Book Online

Just sit there and have your drink, and I’ll fill it in.”
    “You’ve got the baby.”
    “Yes, and what a little angel. See, she’s gone to sleep on my shoulder. Come on, here we go.”
    With her husband’s grudging help, Mimi filled in the puzzle. She’d practiced with a xerox copy, to make sure she could. Her husband was not a patient man. It would spoil everything if she had trouble solving it.
    When she was finished, Chuck said, “So?”
    Mimi pointed.
    “See the poem? That’s for you.
    “My apology I’ll

Not prolong

I am so sorry

If I went wrong.”
    Chuck stared at her.
“Went wrong?
What do you mean,
went wrong?”
He cocked his head. “You went through my things?”
    “No, I—”
    “What have I told you about going through my things?”
    “I didn’t go through your things. Let me show you. I’m so ashamed.”
    “You’re so
ashamed!”
    “Don’t wake the baby.”
    “You’re so ashamed you come at me with crossword puzzles and you’re just afraid I’ll wake the baby?”
    “Come outside.”
    “What?”
    “I have to show you something.”
    “And you’d like all the neighbors to see?”
    “No one’s gonna look at us. If we don’t shout,”
    Mimi added. With the baby sleeping on her shoulder, she jerked open the front door.
    Chuck followed her out into the yard. “Mimi, what’s going on?”
    “You notice how I parked the car? Angling away?”
    “So you’re terrible at parking. I kid you about it. What’s the big deal?”
    Mimi led him around to the far side of the car. Pointed to the freshly repaired fender. “I backed into a light pole. I’m really sorry. I know how much you love the car.”
    Chuck looked astounded. “You dented the car?”
    “Yes. I’m really sorry.”
    Mimi waited for the explosion.
    Instead, Chuck started to giggle. “That’s what this is all about? The car? You thought I’d be upset about the car?”
    “You’re not upset?”
    Chuck took her by the shoulders, kissed her on the forehead. “You’re very sweet, you know. You think you’re the first housewife ever dented the family car?”
    “I was so worried about it.”
    “And getting that woman to make up a crossword puzzle. If that don’t beat all. Come on, sweetie, let’s go in.”
    Chuck put his arm around Mimi and his daughter, and led them into the house.
    He glanced over his shoulder as they went in the door. But there was no one there.

ACROSS
1 “Huh?”
5 Faultfinder’s find
10 Room at the top?
14 Hopscotch space
15 Loosen up
16 About, in lawyerspeak
17 88 days on Mercury
18 Consume with gusto
19 Bond in court
20 Start of message
23 Chinese shell food
26 Ahead of time
27 Chilean-born pianist,
Claudio ___
28 Wander about
31 Part 2 of message
34
Z
, as in Zákinthos
38 Falco of “The Sopranos”
39 Unhappy fan, maybe
40 Rock group?
41 Wanton look
42 Part 3 of message
44 Just say no
45 Take the honey and run
46 “Be prepared,” for one
50 “Even if it fails . . .”
52 Part 4 of message
56 July 4 or 5, e.g.
57 Oohed and ___
58 Invasion site of 2003
62 Turkish military title
63 Bump and ___
64 Only
65 Look for
66 Roll-on alternative
67 Had a big mouth
DOWN
1 A question of motive
2 Break ground?
3 Docs’ bloc
4 Long essay
5 Baguette or challah
6 Lutzes and Salchows
7 Tone of voice?
8 Manhandle
9 Industrial show
10 Tripoli’s locale
11 Broadcast booth sign
12 Something extra
13 Set for the BBC
21 “What’s ___ problem?”
22 Ring stone
23 “Doonesbury” square
24 Eat away
25 Bandleader Shaw
28 Spacious
29 Small bills
30 Farming prefix
32 Off-Broadway award
33 Baguette or challah
34 Animal behavior expert
35 Mistake
36 U. of Maryland athletes
37 Thus far
43 In stitches
44 Unknown John or Jane
46 King with a golden touch
47 Old enough
48 Tax of a tenth
49 Fine-tune
50 Battleground
51 Hot alcoholic drink
53 Acts like a shrew
54 Ballpark cover
55 Sound from a fan
59 “Winnie-the-Pooh” baby
60 Part of “snafu”
61 End-of-proof letters

ACROSS
1 “Huh?”
5 Faultfinder’s