watching the glitter lamp in the dark:

eric: uh, there’s something i’m thinking that i want to tell you, but…well, i’m trying to think how to say it without it sounding like an insult.

kara: um, well maybe you shouldn’t tell me…?

eric: well what i was going to say was ‘you look really pretty in the dark’ but i guess that’s sort of…

kara: …….?!

eric: i mean, you look really pretty at other times too, not just uh…when it’s, you know…dark… i guess that’s sort of, i mean i didn’t mean for it to be so…such a…

kara: backhanded compliment?

eric: yeah.

[pause]

eric: here, let’s just put a bag over your head