We rented a DVD and ordered Thai for our date br From the kitchen he procured two paper plates, br Two plastic spoons and two plastic cups br In style was my date going to serve this meal up br br 'Are you short on crockery', I asked with surprise br 'Don't like washing up' he bluntly advised br He placed his container of food on his plate br And I followed suit without further debate br br I wasn't expecting tableware of finest china br And I don't like to be thought a hard-to-please whiner br But my plastic spoon was just not up to the task br 'Could I please have a fork', I plaintively asked br br His reply 'I don't have one', stopped my spoon in mid air br 'Do you have a knife, by chance, one that is spare? ' br 'Only for chopping food', he testily attested br And then added 'Why are you so interested? ' br br 'Oh no reason, I guess', and refrained to add br That for someone well-off this was just sad br When I left his abode, he again hit his mark br When he didn't accompany me out in the dark br br Inspired after reading Suzanne Attar's book 'Dates of Our Lives' br br (Sydney, Australia - 2010)br br Alessandra Liveranibr br