The Son of My Friend

A middle‑class couple finds themselves at a crossroads when the season’s social calendar insists on a grand gathering. Agnes and her husband wrestle with the expectations of their circle, the allure of a lavish party, and the moral weight of serving alcohol to a crowd that includes impressionable young men. Their conversation reveals the tension between personal conscience and the pressure to conform to fashionable customs.

Set against the backdrop of late‑19th‑century temperance debates, the story explores how ordinary decisions can echo larger social concerns. As the couple weighs the cost of hospitality against the potential harm of tempting guests with wine and brandy, the narrative captures the quiet anxiety that underlies seemingly simple social rituals. Listeners will be drawn into a thoughtful examination of responsibility, reputation, and the subtle ways everyday choices shape a community’s values.