“The Anniversary,” The Blind Date,” and “A Table for One, Please”

Table Twelve / Two Diners

Egg Rolls (3)

General Tso’s Chicken

Chicken Lo Mein

Her

So, this is Janelle’s cousin,

in town for an academic conference.

He is a good-looking guy,

obviously bright,

a little shy outside of talking

about the conference

he’s attending.

So bright. I’m no slouch,

but he is talking circles

around me. I took

the route that didn’t demand

four years of college. Being a legal

secretary has worked out just fine:

great money, acceptable hours,

a little overtime

when we have a major case.

He is good looking and bright –

did I mention that? If the world

is truly going to end New Year’s Eve,

a little time right now

with him can’t be that bad,

even if we’re splitting the bill.

He keeps starring

at that big table, people

from his conference I think,

academic gods that keep him

from staring more at me.

I know

I am worth

the time.

I’m bright and, though I don’t

have a PhD, I can chat

about many topics, mix it up

with the best of them –

hanging with lawyers

every day will do that for you.

I have a cheesecake and wine

at home – a girl scout

is always fully prepared.

“Rely on close friends to give you advice”

Him

She is really, really

pretty, smart too.

Janelle was right

to plan this move.

I only wish that half

the major lights in the field

were not across the room.

My post-doc is coming to an end

and I would love a new place

to call home. I am sure

she thinks I am ignoring her.

Somewhat true, but not.

I am trying not to split

my attention between my colleagues

and her. It is hard to think

about romance, even in the face

of absolute beauty

when my academic future

is on the line. These conferences

are always the greatest place

to network and hear

about job openings.

I should go with the flow.

They didn’t ask me

to join them and I have

the best-looking woman

in the restaurant at my table.

It could be worse. I could

be back at the hotel,

practicing my talk

for tomorrow

one or two more times.

Maybe after dinner,

we can stop somewhere

for ice cream.

Sweets for the sweet?

Advantage goes

to the prepared mind.

Time waits for no man.

“You will continue to take chances and be glad that you did”

Table Three/Two Diners

 

Chicken Lo Mein

Garlic Chicken (no mushroom)

 

The Husband

 

It wasn’t this restaurant,

another Chinese place

in a town hundreds

 

of miles away, closed years ago,

bulldozed for a parking lot.

But a lot like this,

 

red in the décor,

with golden lions

around the entrance.

 

We sat at a table like this,

tucked in a corner,

away from the door.

 

I didn’t have a ring

to give to her that night.

In fact, she never got

 

a diamond, except

her grandmother’s flashy ring

and the platinum watch – both

 

broken up for delicate rings

for our daughter

and the daughters-in-law.

 

There’s a point where

you want to live it

all over again, see all

 

that you have done,

see the places you have been,

see each morning smile

 

and evening kiss.

Forty years.

Now instead of a ring,

 

I give her a daily

avocado toast

with cranberry juice.

 

Forty more years

and forty more years

and forty more years.

 

“You will find happiness in mind and heart”

 

The Wife

 

We moved the schedule up.

My new job just accepted,

We had a new city to move to.

 

He had no ring for me.

I never got

a diamond.

 

The only diamonds -

my grandmother’s cocktail ring

and her thin diamond watch –

 

were both transformed into delicate rings

for our daughter

and daughter-in-laws.

 

I made him kneel

three times to ask

after a quiet conversation

 

that it might be the right

thing to do and the right

time to do it. I didn’t 

 

want him wavering,

we had had enough

of his wavering.

 

A woman wants

to hear the words.

I heard them

 

again three times.

Forty years.

Three wonderful

 

children and a covey

of grandchildren.

We have had

 

adventures galore

and we are not done yet.

The days are moving so fast now.

 

Where did the summer go

And now the fall?

I should make him

 

kneel again tonight,

say the words

and pledge the love

 

that I know beats strongly

today and always, but

getting back up

 

from one knee

is harder each year.

He would do it though.

 

Forty years and

forty more years

and forty more years.

 

“There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead of you”

Table Four/One Diner

Moo Shu Pork

 

Traveling Businesswoman

 

Tonight, my book

is my only companion.

I have visited this city

 

so much lately,

but all my old friends

live so far way

 

with their own lives

and families.

It is funny how much

 

I think about college lately,

all of us arranged at first

on the dorm floor

 

so haphazardly, later

we planned so carefully,

choose roommates to become

 

best girlfriends for life.

I was awkward,

from a small town,

 

what I lacked in fashion,

I made up being everyone’s helper

with organic chem and calculus.

 

Some of the girls had it all

figured out – I was one of those.

It turned out right as ordained,

 

but so wrong – too normal,

too predictable, too controlled.

Oh, the things I could say

 

to my young self, things

I should shout at the young girl

Having dinner with her family

 

at the table next to mine.

He will suck the life out of you,

I’d say, use your money to buy

 

his next wife jewelry and

the big house you both,

supposedly, dreamed of,

 

supposedly. I should have spent

more time listening

to the close friends

 

I never get to see — have done

less planning and more doing,

should have luxuriated in the freedom.

 

I would tell my young self

to branch out and try new things,

order new dishes,

 

do not accept the Moo Shu Pork

once again - like tonight

and every other night.

 

“Many receive advice, only the wise profit by it.”