‘That’s a gorgeous name.’ Her date looked at her with warmth. ‘Angela, I got you wrong. I apologise. You’re a kind and considerate woman.’

‘Stop,’ she said stiffly. ‘I have some interesting qualities too.’

‘I never thought I would meet a nice woman, let alone another animal-lover.’ He paused. ‘I don’t want to paint her in a negative light, but my ex-wife murdered my dog.’

‘I guessed that.’

‘Imagine that bathroom in there,’ he pointed to the restaurant bathroom, ‘normal bathroom, tiles, bit of mould, nothing spectacular.’

‘I can see it.’

‘Now picture it with blood everywhere. That was how it was. A disappointing sight.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Angela said.

‘What was up with your ex?’

‘He was non-violent. He didn’t murder anything, as far as I know. All in all, an agreeable man.’ She paused. ‘Do you like clever people?’

‘Not really.’

‘You would have liked him then. He wasn’t clever at all. It wasn’t a big deal like people make it out to be.’ She looked at him. ‘Not that he was an imbecile either.’

‘What is it all for, Angela? Sometimes, when I am selling them the damn equipment I want to say, “Don’t bother,’’ but I can’t because of the money and the commission.’

‘I have an old friend who thinks it’s for companionship. Someone to hold your hand at the end, that sort of thing.’

‘I don’t like the sound of your friend much,’ he said.

‘Yeah,’ she agreed. ‘She’s not great. It’s terrible when you get old enough to dislike your old friends.’

She glanced down; her salad was gone. She had no recollection of putting that fork in her mouth. Her body was always making decisions independent of her.

‘Angela, would I be correct in saying we have a deep and profound connection at this present moment in time?’

‘You wouldn’t be too far off.’ She pondered. ‘Would you like to sit in my car with me for a while?’

When they stood to leave, the teenagers gathered in a circle and unenthusiastically waved them off. As they settled the bill, the man interlaced his fingers with Angela’s. One of the serving boys made a discreet retching face at this display of middle-aged affection. In the car park, her date said, ‘Look, the stars are low,’ – and they were.

In her car, they sat in silence. Her date rested his feet impolitely on the dashboard. He looked like a monarch, surveying his kingdom.

‘You know that number I gave you?’ Angela asked.

‘Your telephone number?’

‘Yeah. If you are going to use that number the best time is between 5 PM and 8 PM because that is after school and before night.’

‘What do you do at night?’

‘I go to the supermarket,’ Angela said simply.

‘Is it … nice in the supermarket?’

‘It’s a good time,’ Angela said. ‘I have a friend there.’

They both stared out the windscreen.