My cousin's 8pm phone call rule saved Christmas dinner

Last year at my aunt's place in Cleveland, things got tense when my uncle started arguing about politics with my brother-in-law. My cousin Sarah whispered to me that she always schedules a fake urgent call for 8pm sharp, so she can escape any dinner that goes sideways. I laughed it off, but sure enough, at 8:07 her phone buzzed and she made this whole big show about her neighbor's dog escaping. She grabbed her coat, gave everyone a quick hug, and was out the door in under two minutes. I tried the same trick at my in-laws' Thanksgiving after the turkey came out dry and my MIL started crying over it. The call came, I said it was my boss about a work emergency, and I honestly felt guilty for about ten seconds before I was home in my pajamas by 8:30. Has anyone else built a fake escape plan for family gatherings, or am I the only one who needs a scripted exit strategy?

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kelly.nora7d ago

That "scripted exit strategy" line got me, I've done the same thing twice this year.