[ WP ] Write a character-based story from objective point of view : we can only observe actions and have access to the thoughts and feelings of no person .

Mary knocked and took a step back, looking down towards her shoes. Chris kept his eyes trained on the wavy oval of glass inset on the center of the door. A figure approached from the interior and the door swung inwards. Scents of pine and cinnamon wafted out, Mary ’ s head snapped up, a smile spread across her face showing teeth. 
 
 “ Chris! Mary! Welcome, come in, come in. ” They were waved inside. Mary took the time to carefully wipe her boots before stepping across the threshold. Chris simply stepped forward and in, making room for Mary to follow. They both began the process of removing their thick outerwear. Unwinding scarves, pulling off mittens and shoving them into pockets before reaching with numb fingers towards zipper pulls. 
 
 “ It ’ s freezing out there tonight! ” Chris stated gaily. No one argued. Mary, stocking-footed, padded her way towards the open kitchen with her grocery bag of tupperwares slung over her shoulder. She ’ d spent the morning carefully portioning out each tupperware with items to make a salad now that she was here. Chris didn ’ t like his food to touch, so they were contributing a salad bar to the night ’ s potluck offerings. 
 
 The kitchen was crowded, as ten or more people stood gathered near the center island. They circled, like birds, picking at various dishes and ignoring others. Mary found an opening on the long side of the island, closest to the sink, and quickly stepped up between two backs. Both people glanced over their shoulders and, noticing her pulling tupperwares out of her bag, took a step forward to give her more space. She began lining up her squares in two neat rows. 
 
 “ What ’ s that you ’ ve got there? ” a friendly voice directed her way. Mary glanced up, the corner of her mouth quirking almost towards a smile, as she finished setting out the last tupperware. 
 
 “ Oh, we ’ ve brought along a salad bar! ” Chris said, appearing at Mary ’ s side. “ It was her idea. So no one has to have anything they don ’ t like in their salad. Always considerate of everyone, my Mary. ” Chris beamed at the other guest, his hand on Mary ’ s low back. Mary smiled up at Chris. 
 
 “ What a fun thought. ” replied the man as he began to make his way elsewhere. Chris glanced down towards Mary and gestured to the living room. She nodded and they began to pick their way across the space towards the couch and decorated tree. Mary kept the grocery bag over her shoulder, with its final parcel, until they ’ d reached their destination. She then withdrew the wrapped gift and bent down to place it at the foot of the tree. 
 
 As she stood, she noticed that Chris had been drawn away into conversation with another couple they ’ d known and she was being approached, again, by the man from the kitchen. He drew near and leaned toward her. She felt his breath stir her hair as he spoke. By the time he ’ d leaned back again, smiling, Chris was there at her side. 
 
 “ You can ’ t whisper in her ear, man, ” Chris said. 
 
 “ Look, no offense, but it was just a joke. I ’ m not hitting on your girl. It ’ s a party. It ’ s just small talk. ” the guy replied, both hands up and open towards Chris placatingly. Mary frowned and turned to Chris, bringing her hand up to touch his chest. Chris quickly smiled at her and held up a single finger in a ‘ just a moment ’ gesture. 
 
 “ She ’ s deaf. You have to let her watch your mouth. ”
