(The only way for me to get a space between the title and the beginning is to write this.)
They talked about
cooking recipes,
different models of mixers,
different makes of cars,
going shopping by bus,
the weight of paper bags,
the possibility of cycling into town,
children's schooling,
children's upbringing,
heating systems,
insulation,
the weather,
the new underground metro,
shopping on Saturdays,
lovely walks to do,
how many cars they own,
and the cool - but expensive - restaurant that has just opened in the mall.
No one said they were bored to tears,
or would have preferred to stay at home,
or apologised for having no conversation,
or were furious for missing their favourite TV programme,
or said how awful they thought everyone else's company was.
The women were thinking
how ugly her dress was
where she got her hair cut
what she could possibly see in her husband
how she had put on so much weight
he seems to like me
she was far too skinny
he's good-looking
she must have had plastic surgery.
The men were wondering
where he got his shoes
what it would be like to go to bed with her
what a shapely backside she had
how large her boobs were
about her crotch
if she would ever stop talking
how much happier he would be at home.
Then everyone said goodbye to everyone else in a pool of smiles, 'it was a great partys', 'see you soons', 'lovely to meet yous' and 'hope to see you agains'.
