As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her laughter and 
being part of it, until her teeth were only accidental stars with a
talent for squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at each
momentary recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her throat,
bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiter with trem-
bling hands was hurriedly spreading a pink and white checked cloth
over the rusty green iron table, saying: "If the lady and gentleman
wish to take their tea in the garden, if the lady and gentleman wish
to take their tea in the garden..." I decided that if the shaking of
her breasts could be stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon
might be collected, and I concentrated my attention with careful
subtlety to this end.


 = Arion Alston