She had that nervous lined smile

The kind that said this is my first date

With this guy who is more experienced than me

Or maybe she was just looking

For a way to say goodbye

A sting in the tail for a man whose confidence

Coud so easily be bruised

But she told herself he would quickly recover

As he joked about the menu

And a time he had

When somebody else had said

Something to make him laugh

Almost a private joke

That only he and the joker would understand

And so, he stopped and cleared his throat

The silence that remained

She was happy to sustain

Until she at last says

I’m not very good with this

What the menu

No everything

O.K.

I’m sorry perhaps

He cuts in with’ Whatever makes you feel comfortable’

The icicles around her begin to melt

And lines on her head settle

Let’s start again, Hi I’m Harry with a poor taste in Jokes

She smiles and says under her breath

And so, it begins