Brain Drain

We were out for lunch, just he and I
and he prattled non-stop
about the brain.

He went into copious detail.
he was knowledgeable, and I admired
the fact that he could remember it all.
I had little choice but to listen
and I was hungry so I ate my lunch,
nodding as he talked.

I thought if I pretended to listen
he would soon run out of brain words
but two refills of coffee
and a dessert later, he was still
talking about the cranium, neurons,
medulla and cerebellum.
I was getting brain freeze

from the ice-cream.

I interrupted to ask him if he
would even notice if I got up
and turned cartwheels in the aisle
would he, would he even notice?

He stopped talking, looked at me

and resumed.

I got up, turned a cartwheel

and left.