Hysteria

As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her 
laughter and being part of it, until her teeth were 
only accidental stars with a talent for squad-drill. I 
was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at each momentary 
recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her 
throat, bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An 
elderly waiter with trembling hands was hurriedly 
spreading a pink and white checked cloth over the rusty 
green iron table, saying: "If the lady and gentleman 
wish to take their tea in the garden, if the lady and 
gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden ..." I 
decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be 
stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might 
be collected, and I concentrated my attention with 
careful subtlety to this end.