she sat on her handsrocked back n forth back n forth  lookedqueer   made him uncomfortable

                                                                                                     in spite of her beauty

he asked Is tha a tic

suddenlystopped Where?  sharplyratcheting her head left right anagain hands stayed put she turned on them as she lookedglared   she barked Where?

Jesus realising he upset her No no  not the insect no  Tic  a tic T I C   An idiosyncrasy 

   Idio ah tic ah  the tension anxiousness leaked like air from a toy balloon abating dissipating  she rolledlolled her head her neck shoulders loosening 

                                     she eyed him I’m sorry I’m sorry . . I hate ticks . a little girl trauma . . they make my skin crawl.

Looked traumatic

a brokensmile crept on her lips That would be . friend . . . an understatement.

I apologise I didnt mean to make you uncomfortable

You didn’t know. 

                      An idiosyncrasy? 

Sitting on your hands

Ah that . . I forget I do it. 

                           I’m prone to gesticulate. haha  There’s tic again. 

Aw beat me to the punch

I’d punch you back.

                     she rocked her hips rockedleft freeing her right hand rockedright freed her left snapped her wrists getting blood flowing in her hands   My mother insists it’s unladylike to gesture. 

   Shes not here

                     I think whashe don know  wont kill her  

No. she giggled softly No, I suppose it won’t.

No it wont You be you 

                         I know we don know each other well but I like you  A moment ago you were nakedly yourself unabashed   honest  I find them exceptional qualities

   My mother wouldn’t like you.

Never can tell I have a way with mothers   Often theyve sealed the deal . .

. . Deal, sealed the deal? a lilt in her ask

Yes, acted as closers Women Ive met dated have had  er wha shall we call it . . 

. . We? You. 

                What do you call it?

Yes Correct 

               Wha do whawoud I call it  he put his hands together in his lap fingers interlaced looking down at them Now whos sitting on their hands  he smiled

she laugheddidnt cover her mouth then smiled large he was jealous of her dimples 

                                                                                     Your dimples are fetching

Thank you you’re not answering the question.

You interrupted

You seemed stymied.

Words matter   I was trying toas Im not often to explain this 

                                                                Women Ive dated have been  reticent at first unsure he chuckled I am charming apparently Theyre kinda of like native Brown trout hard to make raise flyfishing   cautious

Cautious.  Curious.   absently noddedwas sitting on her hands again 

                                                                          A fair assessment.  Honest. 

I am 

      I woud also say  many had been burned in the past By dishonestyhonesty may be queer unsettling  but I also understand I can be unsettling which is why I was struck by your remark

   Lonesome aberration?

Yes

       Ive been called worse     smiled

2320,  Thursday,  18  5. 23

1126,  Saturday,  20 5. 23

Octopus Diver  Black Cloud’s Shadow (33:18 minute-mark)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3-YeMEgdc