Alice is my girlfriend: he tries out the idea. My new girlfriend. The language for these situations frustrates him. ‘We are going out together’ - he hates that phrase. ‘Girlfriend’ seems hopelessly teenage and inadequate. What then? ‘Partner’ is too business like, ‘lover’ a bit racy for everyday parlance. ‘Friend’? Sounds like he has something to hide. ‘Special friend’ - oh, please. None of these words is enough because what he really wants to say and wants to tell everyone is--
