Dave noticed that she spoke English comfortably, though her American accent was cut with a grating, local staccato that hurt his ears a little. She said that at first she’d been having a great time at the banquet, but now she felt horrible for ruining what was meant to be a special occasion, and for eating other people’s food. Dave patted her hand and assured her it was fine. They sat in silence for a while. Then he told her a joke, which made her smile. She said she knew some jokes, too, and told him five in succession, each one a variation on why the chicken crossed the road. Dave found none of them funny, but still he smiled, not out of politeness, but at the fact that she found them so hysterical; at one point she actually slapped her thigh. When she laughed, he noticed her wide, uneven teeth. Her eyes were large and far apart, and she barely blinked. This put him a little on edge, though he tried to ignore this. He told her the earring in her left ear, a tangle of blue-green beads and feathers, looked like a fishing lure. She said, “Thanks, I made it myself.” He wanted to touch it, but thought perhaps he shouldn’t. She told him his suit made him look too serious and much too old. She was smiling at him. Or rather, her eyes were smiling, while her mouth was twisted into what very much resembled a frown. She would not look away. Dave’s neck was growing hot and damp under her gaze. He felt they were trapped in this moment, in the warm, heavy stillness between her curious smile-frown and his damp neck.

His damp neck.

Dave hadn’t meant to speak, hadn’t even realized his mouth had started to move, but he found himself blurting out the name of his hotel and their proximity to it.

She looked a little confused. Then thoughtful. Then she turned her gaze to the bronze cupids in the fountain and proceeded to stare at them for a long time. Dave was wondering when his mouth had started operating independently from his brain, and, more importantly, why. Finally, she turned back to him.

“That’s a nice hotel,” she said. “My friend Donny works there. He can get you a discount—just ask for him when you check out. Donny Chow. Got that? Tell him Yi said hi.”

Dave thanked her. She said it wasn’t a problem. Then there seemed to be nothing else to say. They shook hands, exchanged business cards, and said they’d keep in touch.