Ten-Minute Writing - February 22, 2019

She stared around the bar and restaurant. "They look happy," she said, plainly.
"Maybe," he said. "Hard to tell."
"I can tell."
"You know happiness?" he asked.
"Some," she said. "And sadness too."
"Nature of the business," he said.
"At that business?" she said.
"The getting-older business."
She took in a deep breath. "Yep."
"You seem more happy, than not."
"Looks can be deceiving."
He took a swig of his beer, and he it up a bit before setting it down. He didn't know why. Perhaps, he thought, it would delay the conversation's direction.
She turned to him. "What about you?"
"Happy?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I don't want to throw out cliches, but," he hesitated. "What is happiness?"
"What is it?"
"Contentment?" he siad. "Joy? Satisfaction? It seems hard to define. And maybe that's why it's so elusive."
"Not the best conversation item for a bar," she said.
"I'm happy with this beer," he said, picking the bottle up and taking another mouthful.
"And I'm content with the merlot." She winked.
"Well, to be completely honest," he said. "I'm pretty satified at the moment. Next to a pretty woman. Prettiest in the room. She's as I expected. Thoughtful. Sexy."
"Sexy?"
"Yes," he said. "Interesting."