Sarah looked at the clock, and frowned. She could mess with the vials later, her boyfriend Mick was coming for dinner, and she had a lot to do.
The table was set. The food was in the oven, and Mary had finished changing her dress and put on her makeup. She glanced at the clock, she still had fifteen minutes before her punctual Mick would get here. Her eyes drifted over to the box of vials. She snickered. It didn't matter how fine the dinner or the quality of wine she offered, Mick would always insist on a pint of ale. She took the tankard over to the box of vials and glanced back at the table where the red wine in his glass was breathing. She opened the box of vials, and selected one that she decided she would like to try and poured a drop into the tankard. Then she set the tankard back on the shelf.
She had just stowed the vials in her sideboard, when Mick knocked at the door.
"Hello, Mick, I prepared a wonderful dinner with a French Merlot, and-" she began as she opened the door.
"I'll have my usual beer," he said pecking her on the cheek and walking over to the shelf to collect his tankard and then over to the refrigerator.
Mary was steamed, but maybe this would teach Mick a lesson. She had an awful thought. What if the vials were poisonous? That old Mrs Kraft was crazy enough to poison people, if she thought she could get away with it. She better stop Mick, she thought. Unfortunately, Mary wasn't the fastest thinker. By the time she decided to intervene, Mick was already refilling his tankard.
"Ah, that was good. Long day at the salt mines, another is called for," Mick said. Then turning to Mary, he asked, "So is dinner ready?"
"Uh, yes, yes. Have a seat, I'll get it," Mary said nervously. He didn't look any different. Or did he? Ears were more pointy? Eyes more almond shape? No, it was her imagination. Vial probably contained food coloring.
As she set the plate in front of Mick he smacked his lips, and said, "Think the ale's gone flat. First one was fine, but now it tastes a bit off. Guess, I'll try the wine. Mmm."
Mary beamed. Maybe the stuff in the vial was working. She hoped she used enough. She got her own plate and sat down.