we were standing around
at this birthday party
at this fancy
restaurant

and
many
special people were
about
preening their
fame

I wanted to run
out

when a man
standing near by
said something
exactly appropriate
to the
occasion.

“hey,” I said to
my wife, “this
guy’s got
something. when we are
seated
let’s try to
sit next to
him.”

we did and as 
the drinks were 
poured
the man began
talking

he began on a
long story
which was
building toward a
punch
line.

my problem was that
I could guess
what the
punch line
was
going to
be.

and
he talked
on and 
on

then 
dropped the 
line.

“shit,” I
told him, “that
was
awful, you’ve 
really
disappointed
me…”

he
only began
on another
story.


I walked over to
another table
and stood behind
the now
great
movie star.

“listen,
when I first met
you
you were just a nice
German boy.
now
you’ve turned into
a
conceited
prick. you’ve
really
disappointed
me.”

the great movie 
star (who was a
man
mighty of
muscle) growled
and
shook his
shoulders.

then I walked over to
the table
where the birthday lady
sat
surrounded by
all these
media
folk.

“looking at you
people,” I said, “makes
me feel like
vomiting
all over
your 
inept 
plausibilities!”

“oh,” said the lady
to her
guests, “he
always talks
that
way!”

and she gave a
laugh, poor
dear.

so
I said, “Happy
birthday,
but
I warned you
never to
invite me to these
things.”

then
I walked back to
my table

motioned the waiter
for
another
drink.

the man
was telling
another 
story

but 
it was not
nearly 
as good
as

this
one.