stop 1 is at Angie’s
where we have tiny little appetizers
her parents are dressed up as waiters
having as much fun as we are
Jess is with her
which I am glad to see
but they give no hint of
what is really going on
and judging by her parents
I assume they don’t yet know

Mel’s eyes grew wide
when she got a look at Ben
so I know she approves
Mel is with Ryan
and he is not complaining
though I’m not sure
why he doesn’t seem to appreciate
how totally cool Mel is
so I’m a little ticked at him
before we even leave Angie’s

Alex has brought a girl we don’t know
named Lydia
Ferdi is with Carly
and Tru seems to be tagging along
making Ferdi look like he has two dates

Ben fits right in and his maturity
gives way to fun as he talks
and laughs with some of the guys

Mel manages to pull me away at
Alex’s house where we go for
the salad course
and talks for at least ten minutes about
Ben and how cute he is
and how I met him
and that I was totally holding out on her

for our main course, we go to Mel’s
(stop 3) for lamb with mint jelly
and roasted baby potatoes
her parents nowhere to be seen
as the caterers serve the meal
Ben makes everyone laugh
(and groan)
as he tells a story about
his first dissection project in college
and how his lab partner
a guy
passed out and sent the pig flying
where it landed in a girl’s lap
prompting yet another fainting spell

dessert is at the twins’ house
where their mother has made
four different kinds of dessert
Ben points out the key lime pie
remembering my
obsession with the stuff

the limo then takes us to the dance
after our dinner is over
and I tell Mel
she did a great job planning the evening
she sits next to me
and leans back
contented that the night
has gone perfectly
but she stills has
a million questions
to whisper in my ear about Ben
who is on my other side
holding my hand