writing Miss Manners
“May a lady stab her date?”
pop, pop went their guns

senryu by M. Nakazato LaFreniere

We had a lovely dance at the ball. He was charming. When my coachman was not waiting to take me home as I expected, he respectfully offered me a ride. With the rain pouring down I accepted gratefully.

I do my best to be polite, demure and sweet. I read the ladies’ magazines avidly following their advice on manners. But when a so-called gentleman slides next to you and proceeds to put his hands around my neck, I don’t wait to find out if he is after my diamond choker or my virtue. I