Hands

He was house sitting, and he invited her over for dinner. They swam in the pool, and then he went into the kitchen and got busy. After dinner they sat in the den and listened to music. He liked jazz; she liked rock. He put on an album by the Rolling Stones. They sat and talked and drank for a time, and then he got up, took her by the hand, and led her into the bedroom. "You're taking advantage of me," she said. "No," he said. Afterwards he told her she had lovely hands. "You could be a model," he said.

* 

Amanda Palmer’s explaining the eyebrow thing.  An altercation with someone at Roadrunner, or maybe old boyfriend shit to burn– She’s animated but he’s losing signal, filling in the blanks himself.  Whatever, it won’t light at first, and then WHUMP and she staggers back half-blind, runs away terrified and exultant.  She’s considering options in a steamy mirror when his wife comes in and laughs and says you better be dreaming about me.  Wait, I gotta piss, he says, but she’s not taking any chances.  So of course he’s late for work again.  On the train he keeps thinking he’s forgotten something, patting his pockets, but no. 

Hal examines the grey slacks, cashmere blazer, shirt, and tie arranged on the bed. Underwear and socks are folded beside them, polished shoes set squarely on the floor.