"Johnny, you dropped your face! Let me get you a new one!"

You know when you get the feeling you've upset someone or made them mad and you try desperately to watch what you say so you don't make it worse and at the same time you try and say something that will suddenly make them okay again... but there isn't any point asking them if they are mad at you because they'll deny it until the cows come home (and probably after they've left again) and then you're in the same boat that you were before (but this time they know that you know what they think of their boat. Or they know that you think you know what they think of your boat)...anyway, there is no way around it as far as I can tell... just keep tellin' 'em stuff that will make them happy, you hope (and be totally honest or you may as well dig that hole deep enough for your grave) and hope that if you smile sweetly enough, they'll stop being upset or mad and start talking to you properly again.