Punch Line

He sits in the pub, quiet pint on his way home,  
Minding his own business, sitting alone  
Young women sitting at the next table drinking  
Winking, no violets here for shrinking

Out for a laugh, an evening with the girls  
Glance across at him what are they thinking?  
What do they see?  
Just an old guy having a drink?  
Or the man who’s really he?  
  
Whispered conspiracy, then she wobbless over, unsteady gait,  
“Mind if I asks yer a question mate?”  
“We woz wondering” she says mischievously, full of girlish wiles  
"Wot’s sex like wiv an older man?" (Giggles gushing from the girls) she smiles  
 
Deliberately he misunderstands  
 
“Dunno” he grins “I’ve never had sex with an older man”  
His joke better than any she'd intended  
Her mates have a belly laugh, she looks offended  
Thwarted: Whatever her punch line it's redundant now  
She doesn't have the grace to simply bow  
And leave well alone, let him go home  
“Fuck you” she glares. Is she’s seeing him now?  
A person not just some “old geezer”  
Silly drunken little teaser.  
 
He's fifty five very much alive, a proper bloke, not some spent joke  
She weaves her way back ‘Yes please’ he thinks, lovely arse. Wouldn’t mind a poke  

He’s a man who's always enjoyed winning  
Amused by this small victory he’s grinning  
She’s on her phone phoning home mood changed, sullen pout  
He returns to his drink, takes his newspaper out  
 
Pint expired thinking of leaving now, he’s tired  
The young guy stands confronting him,
looking grim, jutting chin,  
"You bin takin’ the piss outta my bird?"  
The man thinks the young bloke looks absurd
But, staring back, says not a word  
 
Mistaking silence for fear the lad draws near,  
Smashes his fist onto the table  
“Better piss off mate while you're able”  

The man doesn’t move.  
 
The lad grips the man by the front of his shirt  
“Fuck off old fart or you’ll get hurt!”  

The man moves.  
 
Lightening right to the young guy's’s jaw,  
Swift kick in the balls and he’s on the floor.  
The girls stare at the man in disbelief  
As the bully pukes out broken teeth  
 
Turns to the girl:“Still fancy that fuck chuck?”
Sardonic smile, totally calm  
No trace of alarm  
 
They see him now! Gimlet eye and chiselled face  
Hard as nails but keeps his place,  
An old soldier broad of shoulder  
Keeps in trim  
Works out hard at the boxing gym  
 
He turns, unhurried, wanders through the door leaving them to wonder  
How the hell did they make that blunder?  
And the 'old chap' the cause of their distress?
Anonymous mate, ex SAS