They were standing in the checkout queue in the supermarket.

– Don’t look now. Kevin is behind us.
– Where?
– At the fruit stall, on his phone, boring some poor sod, no doubt.
– You know, he pinned me to the wall in the café one day. I could feel my blood pressure going up as he talked on and on for a good hour.
– Well, I got my chance to seek revenge. He was sitting in the cafe with a man who is another inveterate talker. As I was passing their table to leave I said loudly, ah, you’ve met your match now! Two great talkers!
– Did you really say that?
– Yes. I could see Kevin bristle, go red in the face. The other man took no offence. He replied in a self-deprecating way, ‘when I told my mother that I got a job as a tour guide, she said, ‘well at least you’ll get paid for talking now.’ Kevin hasn’t come near me since.

all is silent now
lights out, curtains drawn –
but not in dreams

Gerry McDonell