Our family (me, my wife and daughter) spent last Halloween at a good friend's home with his child and some of his friends with their children. My friend's ex-wife and my wife went home early with the youngsters to put them to bed (at our respective homes), and several of the other adults stayed late to drink and talk.

At the end of the night I gave my friend a brief, warm, brotherly hug that did not have the staccatto back slaps and sudden recoiling that accompanies most male hugs.

One of our host's women friends (who did not know us well) immediately accused us of having a gay attraction to each other. She was smiling but it seemed quite clear she was highly uncomfortable with the display and was voicing her disapproval.

Idiot.