DATING ARRANGEMENT.

A BOY AND ARRANGES A DATE WITH A GIRL IN 1963

Yehudit places a tin
on the shelf,
then looks at me.

Don't finish until late.

What about after?

Need to get a bus home;
I get tired.

I watch her
as she moves to get
another tin
to fill the shelf.

When's your day off?

Sunday and half-day
Thursday,
she says,
looking over
at the store manger
who is talking
to a customer.

I work most Sundays,
I say,
can see you
Thursday afternoon,
I guess.

She carries a box out back,
and I wait by the shelves,
pretending to be
interested in soups.

She returns
with another full box;
she puts it on the floor
and opens it up.

I finish at 1pm;
meet me by the café,
we can talk there
and maybe arrange
to meet another time,
she says.

Ok, I’ll be there.

She puts tins on shelves,
eyeing the manager
who walks on through.

He doesn't like us girls
to chat up
during work time.

Maybe the dumb a*s
hasn't got girl
in his life,
I say.

He's got a wife
and daughter.

He's back
and gives her a stare.

I best go,
I say,
see you Thursday.

She nods
and I go,
giving the manager
my John Wayne stare,
but he just looks away
and doesn't care.