The place waspacked and I was the comedian on the stage, I was failing and I couldsee the crowd watching and they weren't smiling. I was totally fuck...d!I was way more than in the weeds, I was now in the ditch!Punk bitch high school kid I was, I wanted to cry. I wanted to runaway, run home and hide in bed under the covers, a total fucking sweatyfailure smelling like sweat, scraped grill grease and burned frenchfries. And my friends? None of them worked, probably sitting in mybuddies dad's. The setting felt oddly familiar, I felt both at ease and stimulated by the wave of strangers and acquaintances that were talking amongst themselves. There was a thrill of recognition, even though I had long ago taken all possible precautions to ensure that we no longer ran in the same circles. A few weeks before, I had learnt of his new girlfriend, one that he appeared rather fond of – unlike the older woman he was dating when we met. I had felt a slight pang of jealousy, obviously, but I had. I was determined not to lose my wallet because it was like a rifle never to be separated from my central core without incurring serious mayhem. Not that I was planning to visit the houses of ill repute or drink myself silly before noon. I had more a nice plate of pasta and some regular old red house wine to wash it down on my mind or at least that was what I did my best to convince my conscience of my sincerity in the matter.I did my best to imagine Naples on a wartime footing with civilians. They actually suit you she said – they look nearly as good on you as me – now she was teasing me. Now at last I had an opportunity to get my own back – Prove it I said I dare you. I think I had chosen the wrong person to dare, I could she that steely glint in her eye. I am not sure if it was the wine or just that Michelle like a challenge but no sooner that I had said that she had pulled down her panties and handed them to me – Swap she said and lets see who looks the best. I stood there in.