Grown man makes new friend

‘How are you keeping?’ he asks
and they get their bits about their kids out the way
and work their way down the chalkboard of the Camra shortlisted Pub of the Year
that is worth the extra walk.

After their third pints he takes out his plastic bag
and returns the CDs he borrowed when he went round for a coffee
now burnt onto his Dell
and he listens to them every night in the room that used to be his office

in his comfy chair with his slightly too expensive to justify headphones
and a four pack from the local shop
‘My treat,’ he tells himself but the man behind the counter seems very familiar.
Nice newsagent. One of the best he’s had.

His wife found out when she started hearing Phil’s name dropped into conversations.
‘Phil’s got the same secateurs as us.’
‘I bumped into Phil at the Farmer’s Market.’
‘Your handwriting’s a bit like Phil’s.’

‘Well I suppose we better invite him round for his tea,’
she said, when he came clean
and as Phil said yes to extra Yorkshire puddings
it turned out they both liked cricket.

It seems so long since he’s had this
Nice wine with dinner then opening the bottle of port
Say ‘Do you know Talking Heads?’
And suddenly Talking Heads are on the five disc changer

A plate of cheese as appreciated as much as a tricky bassline
And the more complicated the music gets, and the emptier the bottle of port
They say ‘Did you sort that problem at work?’
‘Was it okay at the doctors?’ ‘Just pay me back when you can.’

It’s like the time he started to like that new band.
Kept singing their song. Telling everyone how much he liked them
Went by himself to watch them live!
ordered the whole back catalogue.