To begin our conversation, I turn toward Sue

and refer to the Oxford University dining practice

of first talking to the person on one side, then

after a given time, the one on the other side.
Sue responds with the most hackneyed question,

how did you meet your husband, which throws

me off a bit, but we move on to Simon Winchester’s

writing, especially Atlantic but also The Perfectionist

about precision instruments which I say I’m

reading now.
The science reference is an opening for her

to explain her training: undergrad science

then a Masters in what I pretend I recognize,

some study of aquatic mammalian life.
She knows I’ve done a doctorate so asks

me the title which I articulate a version of:

Age and Natural Order in Ultimate Attainment

in Second Language Acquisition.
That leads into a discussion of immigration

then back to her next area of study: Economics,

which is why she is at this dinner and qualified

to turn to her right to join the all-male mutual funds

conversation group that I have heard snatches of

while we’ve been talking. 
This leaves me somewhat desolate as a wife,

rapidly spooning my almond ice cream

into my mouth until my husband, on my other side,

who is also here due to his economics knowledge,

includes me in his conversation with a nod

of his head in my direction.