Since their courtship born in clover leaves, young Bernard really fell
For Elizner, and assumed she felt the same for him as well.
When they’d been together two months, he soon found Elizner crying:
“Some boy my size says you’re far too small for me to be relying.

He believes he’s in the better of positions to provide
For my future. So I think I need a break ‘til I decide
Whether I should be with him or you. I’m sorry for this nightmare.
If you don’t move out of Shangri-Large, I might still find you right there.”

He was devastated by this news, but didn’t want to press
For commitment or a clean break, lest he cause a greater mess.
So he said, “I’ll hope and wait for you,” so matters wouldn’t worsen.
Then Elizner said, “Whatever happens, you’re a real sweet person!”

To distract himself from anxious waiting (he had no idea
Of duration), he decided to attend a function near
His own home, that Alicindra ran for LATERALDATE soon after.
They had used her giant house, and hung small platforms from the rafter.

So the giantesses walked the room and passed a frequent bite
Of their food to al the platform-boys, who stood at their head height.
There were couples (married through their meetings in the group) attending.
Bernard saw the girl who’d used him for a purpose he’d been lending:

Kayte was in attendance with her boyfriend Tennyce. He and Kayte
Went to different places in the room, so they could circulate,
And have opportunities to talk to other people, sharing
Their own testimonies, telling new folks how they had been faring.

To his great surprise, he found that Kayte moved over to him, quick.
Had she recognized him (as the one she’d eaten, so that Nick
Had then teleported to her stomache, freeing him, misleading
Kayte, who still believed this day that he had satisfied her feeding)?

Would she know that he had been the one, and then feel quite deprived
Of the knowledge that she’d eaten someone, learning he’d survived?
Would she try to get away with it again, or go off, shunting
Bernard’s fate on some new boy, whom she would slyly mark for hunting?

“You’re quite young,” she said, “I hope you meet someone you like, who suits
Your intentions. Would you like to try a chip or smaller fruits?
I’m called Kayte. My mother started LATERALDATE. I chose to marry
Someone your size when, despite his close escape, he chose to tarry.

That’s a story I had best not share in detail; but it’s true.
If I’d give my heart to him, I’m sure there’ll be a girl for you.”
Since he’d never told his name, he introduced himself as Bernard.
He was far too small to recognize, and glad she wasn’t learned.

Only Bernard knew the irony that, here she was polite,
Unaware that she’d once eaten him, and offering a bite,
Still enjoying happy dating and the joys of life which followed
What she thought had been consumption of the boy whom she had swallowed.