GLANCES

A dispirited man's hope

He settles down on a wooden chair

in a deco wine bar

eyes reach out for a person of note

to pair with

hopes to connect, to converse to clink glasses

of wine or champagne, to lift his spirits

and more….

 

She is five tables away

head bent as  her slight fingers

dance to the tune of her laptop

a smile on her face lights up the dim space

 

She looks up, catches his grin

second glance she observes him

more closely

he discerns that to imply they meet

at her table

 

After numerous glasses of wine together

they behave a bit tipsy

laugh, chat, smoke, even one dance

to the juke box

next, faces close in, lips scantily touch

thereupon she pulls out her engagement ring

Author's Note

a dispirited man's hope

Reviews

[Re-Pete]

well you sure let the air out of his and my tires both. everything was going great until you sunk the dagger with that rock on her finger. i'm left wondering why she led him on - perhaps he needs stronger eyeglasses, should start looking more closely at people's hands or glancing elsewhere. nice bummer of a write. well done ... :)

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks Pete for a great review!!!
Warmly, B

[Akinlolu]

Embarrassing! And of course of course, comical. But the joke is at the expense of the guy. But if she were my sister, I would have been tempted to ask, "Why did you encourage him so far when you knew you were going to dash his hope?"
Well, I'd say to the guy. "Sorry dude, better luck next time."

[Betty Hermelee]

you are quite right! A fine review, much appreciated!
Warmly, B

[Andrew John]

I love the way these glances work. Nice one!

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Andrew, much appreciated!
Best, B

[FGFRANKLIN]

All that wasted wine and wooing for a love already taken. The poor soul must have been crushed. I actually heard this conversation in a bar once. The band was playing a slow song and a guy who I could tell had worked up his courage with a few drinks walked up to a rather pretty girl and sheepishly asked if she would like to dance. She replied, "No. But you can ask my friend over there. She's a lot more desperate than I am." I spit beer onto my shirt. That was cold as ice. It was funny but mean. She could have simply said she wasn't interested.

[Betty Hermelee]

people are strange, who knows? Thank you for a fine review
Warmly, B

[FGFRANKLIN]

Yes. But "people have more fun than anybody except for horses and they can't" Something Stephen King's grandmother told him related in the story My Pretty Pony. He said he never knew what that meant but I do.

[Lorry]

Aww, come on Betty! Double ouchy, with an added knife twist! 😊
No happy ever after? Not even a quick, regrettable fumble?
I have a funny feeling that this one will separate the sexes, with guys feeling the pain and the ladies laughing and smiling at the man's suffering, which, let's be honest, is all man's suffering at some time or other.
At least on the plus side, it was a quick end to our, I mean his suffering. 😊
Great write and packs quite a punch, or should that be packs quite a kick, to a rather sensitive part of manhood.... His ego! 😊

[Betty Hermelee]

you're right, its very feminist...but what the heck, I'm allowed....thank you my dear friend dor your excellent review!!!
Warmly, B

[Soren]

I can very easily picture the scene it is so well imaged. It does seem a movie scene that though I have never seen but feel that I have. Such a delightful feeling. Loved it Betty

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you dear Soren, much appreciated!!!
Warmly, B

[Ken Simm.]

Ah such a true story. Such a use of beautiful words. And such a denoument.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you my dear friend, much appreciated
Warmly, B

[W. Barrett Munn]

A fitting conclusion would be for him to pull out a picture of his boyfriend.

Winston

[Betty Hermelee]

UGH that's double whammies!
You're welcome W
Best, B

[Stuart Munro]

I’ve been spirited and dis and that , juke box noticed it’s jute box ? Maybe a rush of a pen
Betty ,I really like your poem , as it’s about my life , mostly when young ,a bar sitter

[Betty Hermelee]

so glad you like it, must have brought back memories.
Thank you for reading.
Warmly, B

[Stuart Munro]

It’s a eye posture I choose , thanks for sharing

[Weeping willow]

Wonderful write as I danced with the words of this story, With the clink of wine glasses ;-] Nicely done.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your review, much appreciated.
Warmly, B