I’m downtown, dressed up, feeling great. I decide to have a drink in an outdoor cafe. “Hello, may I join you?” I look up, to see the most beautiful dark eyes in the world smiling down at me. I smile confidently, say, “Of course!” We look into each others’ eyes—and it begins again.

My eyelid starts dancing around, as if it were performing a tango after five cups of espresso.

I see the other person’s lips moving but I’m so distracted by my spastic eyelid that I can’t concentrate on what they’re saying. “Yes, it certainly is nice weather,” I answer, hoping that’s what I should be saying. The puzzled look on my tablemate’s face is proof that I didn’t guess right.

“Concentrate!” I tell myself. “Why are you scowling?” my new friend asks. “You look like you’re in pain.” I can’t tell about my jerky eye. What do I do? I haven’t had a date since…Well, I remember there was ice over the whole earth. And this person is so nice, with such gorgeous eyes! Maybe if I just hold on to my eyelid, it will stop convulsing. No, the hand on the face is just making me look even more strange.

Oh, no, the person is leaving! You stupid eyelid! NOW you settle down! One of these days you’re going to get yours. I’ll buy sunglasses! Then you can dance around all you want, and no one will ever know!

Hey, friend! Come back! I’m getting shades!