table.
‘There doesn’t seem to be much on,’ I say after a swift, un interested glance.
‘Well, I can tell you there’s a darn sight moreon here than is on in Moate.’ Eoin comes from there. He’s staying in a B&B whilst he does the course. ‘What about Tom Cruise’s latest one?’ he asks.
‘I dunno – I’m not that keen on impossible missions.’
‘Or the one with Mell Nichols? That’s supposed to be good.’
‘I’ve rather gone off him. Actually, Eoin, I’m not reallysure I want to go to a film. I’m rather tired. Maybe I should just go home.’
‘Ah no – once we’re sitting in the cinema, you’ll enjoy it.’
I consider mentioning that I’m married, but I don’t feel up to the explanations. Anyway Eoin’s got the bit between his teeth now. He probably wouldn’t take marriage asan excuse. He’s not married. I checked. He’s younger than me – mid-thirties I’d say.
‘What film would you like to see, Eoin?’ I dread the answer this question may evoke, but it is my turn to show some interest.
‘The one with Cameron Diaz – that’s a thriller. Or the one with Kate Winslet. That’s a comedy about a woman who tries to murder her husband.’
‘Okay. Let’s go to that one.’
In the cinema queue I say it’s nice that men and women can just be friends these days. That they can, for example, go out to a meal or a film just as buddies with no strings attached. I know it’s not particularly subtle, but Eoin is wearing a lot of aftershave. I bring up the greyhounds at every possible opportunity.
‘I quite enjoyed that film – it wasn’t bad at all,’ I say afterwards as we cross the street outside the cinema. There’s a lot of traffic and Eoin links his arm through mine protectively. Once we’ve crossed the street he keeps his arm there so, in order to disengage us, I pretend I have to look in my handbag for my scarf.
‘I bet you’ll be glad to get back to your greyhounds next week,’ I say. ‘Who’s looking after them?’
‘A neighbour.’
‘That’s nice. You’ve nothing to do with coursing, I hope.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I’m involved in animal rights. I’ve marched with a pig down this very street.’
‘Ah no – I’ve never touched coursing myself. Just the track racing, that’s all.’
‘Have you any races coming up?’
‘There’s one next month.’
‘That’ll be exciting. Do you think you’ve got a winner?’
‘Ah I dunno, maybe. D’you fancy going for a drink?’
‘Well now, Eoin, I think I’d better be getting back. I live past Bray. It’s a long journey.’
‘Just a quick one.’
‘No. No. It’s very kind of you but I’m quite tired.’
‘I like you, Jasmine.’
‘Thank you, Eoin. You’re a nice person too.’
O’Connell Street is full of couples who are talking and laughing.
‘No, I mean I really like you. I can talk to you.’
‘Thank you, Eoin. That’s a nice thing to say. We can talk lots more tomorrow…in the tea-breaks.’
‘I want to talk to you now.’
‘Well, I’m afraid we can’t talk now, I have to get my bus.’
‘What number bus is that?’
I tell him and it turns out his bus leaves from a stop nearby.
‘I’ll wait with you,’ says Eoin. ‘I wouldn’t leave a woman alone this time of night on a dark street.’
‘It’s not a dark street. There are lots of lamps.’
‘Ah well – even so I’ll stay.’ He takes my hand protectively as we cross a road andthen he doesn’t let it go, so I pretend I have to blow my nose.
At the bus stop he takes myhand again and pulls me gently towards him.
I pull away. ‘No, Eoin. This isn’t that kind of date.’
‘Ah com’on, Jasmine – just a hug. Just a nice warmfriendly hug. It’s a cold night.’
‘It’s quite mild actually.’
‘You know what I mean. Com’on.’ He gives me a tender, teasing smile.
‘But it’s so public here.’ I look down the dark, almost empty street .
‘No it isn’t.’
‘Well – okay. Just a
‘There doesn’t seem to be much on,’ I say after a swift, un interested glance.
‘Well, I can tell you there’s a darn sight moreon here than is on in Moate.’ Eoin comes from there. He’s staying in a B&B whilst he does the course. ‘What about Tom Cruise’s latest one?’ he asks.
‘I dunno – I’m not that keen on impossible missions.’
‘Or the one with Mell Nichols? That’s supposed to be good.’
‘I’ve rather gone off him. Actually, Eoin, I’m not reallysure I want to go to a film. I’m rather tired. Maybe I should just go home.’
‘Ah no – once we’re sitting in the cinema, you’ll enjoy it.’
I consider mentioning that I’m married, but I don’t feel up to the explanations. Anyway Eoin’s got the bit between his teeth now. He probably wouldn’t take marriage asan excuse. He’s not married. I checked. He’s younger than me – mid-thirties I’d say.
‘What film would you like to see, Eoin?’ I dread the answer this question may evoke, but it is my turn to show some interest.
‘The one with Cameron Diaz – that’s a thriller. Or the one with Kate Winslet. That’s a comedy about a woman who tries to murder her husband.’
‘Okay. Let’s go to that one.’
In the cinema queue I say it’s nice that men and women can just be friends these days. That they can, for example, go out to a meal or a film just as buddies with no strings attached. I know it’s not particularly subtle, but Eoin is wearing a lot of aftershave. I bring up the greyhounds at every possible opportunity.
‘I quite enjoyed that film – it wasn’t bad at all,’ I say afterwards as we cross the street outside the cinema. There’s a lot of traffic and Eoin links his arm through mine protectively. Once we’ve crossed the street he keeps his arm there so, in order to disengage us, I pretend I have to look in my handbag for my scarf.
‘I bet you’ll be glad to get back to your greyhounds next week,’ I say. ‘Who’s looking after them?’
‘A neighbour.’
‘That’s nice. You’ve nothing to do with coursing, I hope.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I’m involved in animal rights. I’ve marched with a pig down this very street.’
‘Ah no – I’ve never touched coursing myself. Just the track racing, that’s all.’
‘Have you any races coming up?’
‘There’s one next month.’
‘That’ll be exciting. Do you think you’ve got a winner?’
‘Ah I dunno, maybe. D’you fancy going for a drink?’
‘Well now, Eoin, I think I’d better be getting back. I live past Bray. It’s a long journey.’
‘Just a quick one.’
‘No. No. It’s very kind of you but I’m quite tired.’
‘I like you, Jasmine.’
‘Thank you, Eoin. You’re a nice person too.’
O’Connell Street is full of couples who are talking and laughing.
‘No, I mean I really like you. I can talk to you.’
‘Thank you, Eoin. That’s a nice thing to say. We can talk lots more tomorrow…in the tea-breaks.’
‘I want to talk to you now.’
‘Well, I’m afraid we can’t talk now, I have to get my bus.’
‘What number bus is that?’
I tell him and it turns out his bus leaves from a stop nearby.
‘I’ll wait with you,’ says Eoin. ‘I wouldn’t leave a woman alone this time of night on a dark street.’
‘It’s not a dark street. There are lots of lamps.’
‘Ah well – even so I’ll stay.’ He takes my hand protectively as we cross a road andthen he doesn’t let it go, so I pretend I have to blow my nose.
At the bus stop he takes myhand again and pulls me gently towards him.
I pull away. ‘No, Eoin. This isn’t that kind of date.’
‘Ah com’on, Jasmine – just a hug. Just a nice warmfriendly hug. It’s a cold night.’
‘It’s quite mild actually.’
‘You know what I mean. Com’on.’ He gives me a tender, teasing smile.
‘But it’s so public here.’ I look down the dark, almost empty street .
‘No it isn’t.’
‘Well – okay. Just a
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