John and I had a lovely dinner that evening and delved into lots of different topics, learning about each other and what life was throwing at us or indeed, had thrown.

Sitting on the steps of the cottage porch I couldn't help but watch him- talk, move, smile, smirk, smoke. I had to be shifty though catching pieces of John from the corner of my eye, if not, he teased me relentlessly and then out of nowhere would clamp up. Not speaking, not trusting me... til I wore him down again with inane jokes or stories of my travels.

"OK try this one for size" I smiled at his poker face and he waited for my next god awful joke "How can you tell when a drummer's at the door?" John shrugged and took a drag on his smoke, bored. I dropped the punchline "He doesn't know when to come in!" and slapped my legs like I was on a comedy show, complete with pretend cymbal crash. John grimaced and I continued on, he said nothing so I would hit him with jokes and stuff til I got him smiling again or hitting me to shut up....."No good? Alright another then"

"oh gawd.........."

"Righteo then, ready? You will really like this one!" I smiled broadly at John and he stared back smoke hanging from his lips, sexy as hell, but no, I'm telling jokes here! "Why do guitarists put drumsticks on the dash of their car?" I nudged him and waited, nothing. Nudged him again, waited, went to nudge again but he moved.

"Ok OK! Why do guitarists put drumsticks on the dash of their car?" John answered and replayed the line finally, all whilst flicking the stub of his cigarette into the ashtray a few feet away.

"...So they can park in the handicapped spot. Get it? Drummers are dumb.... So they can park in the handicapped spot."

"Why are you calling yourself dumb....."

"I don't really know..." I replied slowly then shrugged, beaming at him "But I got you talking and smiling. Well talking you didn't smile much at the joke, did you!"

"I can't understand you at all. You play the drums like that Animal on the Muppets then sitting here you're a bad Jerry Lewis and then at other times... sandcastles on the beach with Stella" He leaned back onto the post holding up the handrails, studying me through slits of eyes, brown orbs holding me, watching me intensely.

"Well I don't like silence so Animal on the Muppets is a great representation of me maybe I should colour my hair and stick my finger in a light socket to get it frizzy!"

I reached back and grabbed the cigarettes from behind his backside, smiling, remembering the Beatles buns, I grabbed the pack (not the buns!) that he discarded earlier. As the match flickered and caught the end I took in a few lungful's ignoring his studying look, preferring to watch the sky and stars. I wasn't one to smoke after dinner, especially a Chinese dinner, ughh, so offered him the smoke to finish.

"Ta" John looked at the end, a slight pink stain left from the lip gloss that had lingered on my lips, shrugging he popped the durry in his lips it drooped down and he decided to stand. Holding out a hand he mumbled with the smoke in his mouth  "Come 'ed, I'll walk you back to the big house"

The sensor lights blinded us momentarily when we approached the door to the back stairwell, a shared unison of 'shit' got me giggling as I opened the door. The light went off and moonlights shadowy darkness covered us. The only other light being the end of the cigarette ever present in Johns mouth.

"Well, ma lady, you are escorted safely to your abode, I wish you a bonny farewelly, a good nighy and sleep tighty and the bedbugys not to bitey" As John grinned and dipped in a bow I semi shut the door, my head peeking round the piece of timber that will close us from each other, ending a really nice evening.

But I changed my mind, I was female after all and I still reserve the right to change my mind once in a while. I stepped back out quickly and kissed Johns cheek, retreating behind the door again "Good night to you too dear sir may your dreams be filled of pretty maidens and good jokes"

John chuckled and I smiled as he gave a half wave, about faced and wandered off into the night.