11.   A rather awkward silence began to stretch between them and she strove for something pleasant to say.

12.   They both laughed, then there was an awkward silence.

13.   There was a slightly awkward silence.

14.   There was an awkward silence when Ruth managed to rein in her silly chatter and then Fernando took control.

15.   An awkward silence followed.

16.   Another moment of awkward silence followed before Cheney began a brief, low-key speech about teaching children the importance of character.

17.   A second, maybe less, of awkward silence followed before being shattered by a long, deep laugh.

18.   After avoiding the topic with an awkward silence, though, he later spoke about religion in answering an unrelated question from a Chinese reporter.

19.   Chadek filled in awkward silences by talking of a coming ski trip.

20.   Cursory answers, glazed expressions, awkward silences and sudden changes.