A THING BVURNED 1997.

TWO IRISH WOMAN IN 1997 AND A HUSBAND'S RETURN.

Nuala introduces Una to Brian
as he enters the lounge,
Nuala and Una stand apart,
gaze at him.

Brian smiles awkwardly
and says,
so you're the Una
who Nuala 's been
rushing off to see?  

Una looks at him,
tries to gauge
his thoughts and reactions,
yes, I am she,
Una says smiling,
trying to make it seem
a casual thing,
a mere friendship.

He turns to Nuala
and says,
we lost,
2 goals down,
fecking ref
had his eyes shut
most of the time,
couldn't find his arse
if his eyes were wide open
and both hands searching.

Una sniggers,
takes in Nuala's features,
the anxiety she sees there.

But did you enjoy it
apart from that?
Nuala says,
wanting to move on
and settle him down
and Una away
before words slip up
and reveal things.  

A few lilies,
that's all,
and a talk with the boys,
Brian says,
eyeing Una,
taking in her
short pink dress,
the nice thighs,
hair.

Been friends long?
he asks Una.

School friends,
Nuala says,
way back,
just found her
in recent months.

Is that so,
Brian says,
don't recall you
from school.

Even your sex brain
can't recall all the girls
from school,
Nuala says
sitting on the sofa
beside Una.

Guess not,
Brian says,
sitting in
his favourite armchair,
his eyes searching Una's,
lowering his gaze
to her thighs again.

O,
Joe's wife's
pregnant again,
that's her fourth
in four years,
he must spend
most of his time
between her thighs,
Brian says,
eyeing Nuala.

Coffee or tea, Una?
Nuala says,
ignoring Brian's words
and news.

No, I must be going,
got a date tonight,
Una says,
pretending,
winking at Nuala
so Brian can't see.

Who's the lucking buck?
Brian says,
grinning,
eyes large.

Just a friend,
Una says,
rising from the sofa.

Jammy fecker,
Brian says,
eyeing her
as she turns to go,
taking in her behind.

Good to meet you,
Una says to him.

They shake hands
and she follows Nuala
along the passage,
away from Brian
who turns on the TV,
cracks open
a can of beer.

Sorry about him,
Nuala says in a low voice.

Una shrugs her shoulders,
no problem.

They stare at each other,
then kiss on the lips,
holding briefly.

See you soon?
Nuala asks,
releasing Una
reluctantly.

Una nods,
smiles and goes
out the door and away.

Nuala closes the door,
turns back towards
the lounge,
passing the bedroom,
where she imagined
she and Una could
have been making love,
before Brian returned,
and as she thinks that,
she inwardly hots up
like a thing burned.