Not Just Dessert

It is important to note

I did not know he was sick.

He did not tell me.

There was no polite cough or

suggestion of weakness.

He ate well and

we argued over the check

and threatened

to explode

or at least to burst

a button or two.

I told him

that if he went first

I wouldn't bother cleaning up after

and he said that I'd

better up the tip then.

We laughed about

a service charge

for such an event.

Enough laughter

to leave

you breathless

purple faced and

collapsed.