The waitress came back with Daniel’s Gold Card and a couple of chocolatey mints to take away the sting of the bill.
‘You are joking right?’ said Philipa, as she pulled her scarf out of her handbag.
‘I’m afraid it’s true,’ said Daniel, ‘I just have to pay by card or contactless.’
‘But you really cannot go to an ATM?’ Philipa said.
‘Nope. Nor a bank,’ said Daniel.
‘Blimey, I’ve never heard of anything like it,’ she said.
‘Sense of smell is linked to the most primal of instincts you know,’ Daniel said, ‘the strongest and most instant reactions.’
Philipa touched his arm as he put on his jacket, ‘What happened to you when you were a kid then? Must have been something.’
‘Well of course, but I’m not at liberty to tell you on a first date,’ Daniel said touching her hand, ‘Suffice to say just a few bank notes and it can send me right off, pure mental. It frightens me how much of an animal I can become if I touch cash.’
‘Fine excuse not to tip then,’ she smiled, ‘Suppose change is okay?’
‘Like I say card only,’ he said, ‘I’m no skinflint, it’s purely health and safety - I’m usually a pussycat.’
Back at the flat Philipa sat on the sofa and smiled at Daniel as he walked into the kitchen to pick out a bottle of red. After placing the bottle and glasses down he took off his jacket - something attracted his attention - as he took his hand out of the inside pocket she saw his face change instantly and realised that this was one date she shouldn’t have forced to go Dutch.

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WC: 278 words
Trifecta: 'Animal' - 24 Sept 2013