"I'm a dragon"
declares a man at the next table over
my head turns
my heart quickens
my breath sticks in my throat

"looks like I'm a monkey"
one of his companions adds
and then I remember
the placemats
depicting all twelve animals 
of the chinese zodiac
each with a list of years

my breath returns
and once more
I am alone

(©2011 Cassander)

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/cassander