She offered me only the faintest of dates:
"Be here next week and I'll dance with you."
But that in itself was a bit of a breakthrough
from someone who never took off her coat.
Perhaps she was wary of showing her figure,
afraid perhaps that the boys would snigger
as they lounged at the bar with their mates.

Despite her dull coat though, she'd plenty of fans
because she was blessed with a beautiful face.
She certainly wouldn't have been out of place
as cover girl fronting some posh magazine
with fine balanced features, pure skin, piercing eyes
and a smile that engendered interior sighs.
I tried to resist making plans.

The one time I'd managed a serious chat
she'd seemed to be lacking in family ties -
no mention of mother (a minor surprise),
no father around but a junior sister,
still studying, who she helped out with money
which, on her small salary, wouldn't be funny.
Perhaps I could help her with that !

So during the next week I spent too much time
in trying to clarify feelings about her
and what my intentions really were.
The difference in ages was several decades
so I was too old to have hopes as a lover
but what about being a surrogate father?
A Sugar Daddy slime ?!

I hoped my intentions were not quite that bad
(my real daughter, older, would surely not think so
since all women guard against male libido).
Platonic paternal was struggling with basic
attraction to beauty and though it was natural
I couldn't decide just how much it was sexual.
My aged confusion was sad.

But I turned up next week - and she wasn't there!
OK, so that solves it. And just as well.
And then she walked in and I just couldn't quell
the race in my pulse but the lads in attendance
whisked her off to the bar and she passed and ignored me.
OK, what the hell! She would likely have bored me.
They all went outside and I sulked in my chair.

The evening dragged on with no hint of romance.
I looked for her outside but she wasn't there.
The band played their last song; I made for the door.
Then caught a quick glance of her there in a corner
away in the dark with a girlfriend, talking.
Totally flummoxed I just kept on walking
but once outside knew that I'd missed my chance.
In a bright red dress she was ready to dance.