"Stick to your ribs," she said, blushing slightly. She had nice ribs, large breasts pushed against a white blouse. "What'cha doing, if you don't mind my asking? You look so intense."
"I was trying to describe someone."
"Are you a writer?"
"No," Joe said.
"My name is Alison, Alison Carl. Have you been here long? In Hawaii, I mean."
"About six months . . . I used to live here." She had short sandy colored hair, a blunt nose and a wide mouth. No makeup. She chewed toast with a satisfied expression.
"I'm doing post graduate work at the East-West Center. I saw the Dalai
Lama yesterday."
Joe sat straighter. "No kidding? What was he like?"
"Cute. Like a little rock." She was compact, a high energy type.
"What's your name?"
"Joe Burke." He took evasive action. "Alison, I'm too old for you." She looked downcast for a moment and then raised her eyebrows hopefully.