Tell, Don't Show

"Britney, this is Stan, an old friend and colleague of mine" Tom introduced and continued with a 'play nice' tone in his voice "Stan, this in my girlfriend, Britney".

Stan, with the kind of smile that says I know I have a ridiculously huge smile on my face but it's either that or I burst out laughing, "Yes, yes... of course she is."

“Huh?” said Britney, head tilted like a dog whose biscuit you’ve just concealed into your fist making it poof disappear, “Oo crab-cakes!” and she was gone, trotting after a waiter expertly balancing a tray on his fingertips and swaying his way around obstacles and people.

Tom watched Stan watch Britney as she frolicked away. “You don’t have to say it.”

“But Jesus, Tom. Wasn’t she your student?”

“As a matter of fact she was, and she graduated so there you go. She’s educated and intelligent. She’s very mature for her age. She explained to me she’s interested in finding out as much as she can about life. She wants to experience it all. She’s smart enough to know that life is short and fleeting so she’s going after as much experience as she can get. That’s probably why she’s attracted to me in my mid-fifties, and not waisting time with inexperienced men. Why, do you know what she told me last night…? She said she wants to read nothing but classic literature. None of this kid’s shit.”

His speech delivered, Tom sat back proud of his words and for having defended the depth of the relationship that he and Britney shared.

Britney returned to the table happily cupping several crab-cakes in her palms. “Tom here tells me that you’re interested in reading the classics.” said Stan

“Uh huh.” She said between chews.

”What do you think of ‘1984’?”

“Oh, I wasn’t alive in the eighties silly!”

“It’s about the sex” Tom conceded.

“Mm… hmm..” said Stan.

“Huh?” said Britney.