to think that if you don't want to tell someone something, you shouldn't hint at it?

[Theicingontop]

We were visiting OH's grandmother with my FIL last week. I pointed to a lovely hand painted canvas on her living room wall, and commented to her on how lovely it was. It was a silhouette of a butterfly on a warm brown background.

FIL tells me it was a gift from him, and that it was painted by a friend of his. He goes on to talk about how it had a very special meaning behind it, something really unique and unexpected.

So I say "Oh, could you explain it then?"

He looked at me like I had two heads, and said he couldn't possibly tell me, it's far too personal. And walked off.

...Am I being unreasonable to think that if you don't want to tell someone something, don't talk it up first and then go cold? In my experience, when you're talking about a painting, it's quite normal to get to know the story behind it...

Really not important, I know, just feel a bit embarrassed and confused by his weird reaction. AIBU?

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

The story may have been more embarrassing for you. At my MILs funeral my FIL alluded to something and was pressed further about it and then launched into a very highly mortifying story about the first time they had sex, no-one could leave the room for fear of offending him and no-one told him to stop it, but it was bloody awful. Sometimes you are better off not knowing.

[KurriKurri]

I agree - if he didn't want to tell you he should have stopped at 'a friend painted it', - hinting at something mysterious and personal then going all huffy when asked about it is attention seeking and silly.

Perhaps he wants to be thought of as a 'man of mystery' - when in reality it was probably painted by the consultant who sorted his piles.