" By now you are feeling left out of things." By now you are feeling left out of things. You reach out and find your lover's hand. "Can't I take this off now?" you ask. "Be patient, my dear, all in good time." "But...." He places a finger over your lips. "Wait until I introduce you," he says. Next you feel a spoon at your mouth. "Open up," says a strange female voice on your right. Mathilde. She has an accent. "Are you from the West Indies?" you ask her. Soup spills on your chin. She wipes it off and returns the spoon to your lips. You open your mouth and take the soup. Again you do not know what to do with your hands. You put your left hand on your lover's knee. He squeezes it and places it in your lap. A distressing feeling of helplessness comes over you. You feel like tearing away from the table and running away, but where would you go? Johnny is talking with someone else. You wonder if you are going to cry. Mathilde pats your forearm. "It's all right, dear. Don't worry. Here is a nice big shrimp. Open up." You take the shrimp and begin to chew. You start to feel better. Johnny squeezes your left hand. |