Page 59 of The Secret to Belonging

after the first beer

everyone is loose and laughing

the band plays covers of American songs

you look around the club

recognize a few students from school

you wonder how Vibeke and Margrethe

know so many people

Margrethe says a lot of the guys are navy

on leave from the ships in the harbor

explains how to tell which country

they’re from

Brits wear Doc Martens, get smashed

and start brawls

Americans wear tennis shoes, say please

and thank you, wear letter jackets

Norwegians’ shoes are nondescript, but their

hair is usually dark and their sweaters hand-knit

(if they look like blond Norwegians

they’re probably Swedes)

everyone seems more mature than your friends at home

more relaxed, nothing to prove

much more testosterone, that’s for sure

you’ve never been around so many young people

having fun, letting off steam

so many people dancing and free

coming back from the bathroom

you see him

the speed skater

sitting in a corner

laughing with a bunch of guys