Wine distills me. I am silk in her hands, her fluttering hands explaining something to me, but all I see is the milky white of her hands, long slender fingers for picking fruit and rolling the tips over my tongue. Perhaps she senses my wandering eyes and catches my drift and that is why she swallows the last of her Merlot bravely with one flick of her hand. A parched thought, my throat coats my words slurred to her, I want to say these things. Instead I feel my palms heating the orb of my glass like a breast warming to my touch.

She clinks her rings on her glass; the glass is now down on the coffee table. Suddenly, her face contorts cruelly like a melting clown and mine drunkenly mimics this mirror — Houston, we have a problem. Her hands fly up to her face, too late; she breathes in deeply and blows out sharply, the droplets of her sneeze, delicate thick liquid, land on my forehead and glasses. My glass of wine I find I’d covered the opening with the palm of my hand. Ashamed to see my own hand betraying me — wouldn’t I want my lover to sneeze in my wine, bless the sacred cup before blessing my dark draught with those same lips? She laughs so I laugh and place half full — half empty? — glass on the table and splattered eyeglasses beside. Animal nuzzle her neck with my face, nudge a moan from behind her earlobe, and rid my forehead of her sticky stuff. Suddenly sober and wondering, just wondering, if she will give me a cold.

• October 24, 2003 - No Shame Roanoke
  

  Performed by Laura Tuggle.

• February 6 & 7, 2004 - Best of No Shame (Roanoke)

• June 8, 2004 - No Shame at Piccolo Spoleto (Charleston)
  

  Performed by Laura Tuggle.

• June 11, 2004 - No Shame at Piccolo Spoleto (Charleston)
  

  Performed by Laura Tuggle.

• June 12, 2004 - No Shame at Piccolo Spoleto (Charleston)
  

  Performed by Laura Tuggle.

• June 11, 2005 - National Best of No Shame at Piccolo Spoleto (Charleston)
  

  Performed by Kris Laguzza

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