he took a shortcut to the mall through a department storethrough womens clothing

a pregnant woman stood before a fulllength mirror mounted on a structural pillar

she wasnt holding anything up against herselfhadnt anything in her hands

                                                                                 was looking   fixated 

she looked fantastic in bloom he had a thing for pregnant women knew they fucked  

he had to saycouldnt help himself

                                    into the mirror over her shoulder Seem iffy bout whaya see

her eyes clearedseeing again she looked at him in his reflection

                                                                      I can’t say.

she closed one eye  looked  Can’t say.

she opened itclosed the other

                                No.     No I can’t say.

May I

she looked at him with both eyes a touch bemused  he hoped 

                                                                she turned halffacing him  What?

Better far better  Thank you

Perhaps.

          You were going to . .

. . Yare absolutely beautiful  flowering  ripening  your womanhood motherhood   probably more beautiful than you ever have beenTake that to the bank  Im from a huge family as a boy in relativesin my grandmothers livingroom jostled  my head bounced off bellys halfdozen pregnant auntsacquaintances  I coudnt help but absorb their joy

Yaought to cherish yourself  Yare quite beautiful   Arresting

she smiled wistfully  Keep it up brother, I might take you home, my husband doesn’t share your enthusiasm.

Didnt do it alone  he bears responsibility

    Hmmm. 

                she lingered  then turned back towards the mirror   seemed now to like what she saw

whatever she saw he saw  it made him smile

I gotta go

              Be well be happy

Thank you.

Hellno thank you 

                      You were an unexpecteddelicious treat this afternoon

1916,  Twosday,  17  5. 22

354preferred,  Thursday,  19  5. 22