BR - Beth's mom

Beth’s mom is waiting for you at the airport. She’s not what you expected.

She wears tan pants and a bold, blue, patterned sweater. Her figure reminds you a bit of Lotte from FUTA: she’s tall, which creates the impression that she’s thin, but she still has curves, it’s just that her long legs change her proportions.

Her hair is the exact same shade of brown as Beth’s, but it’s long and a bit wild instead of short and tidy. Beth’s haircut is popular among female runners and soccer players, but you can tell right away that if she ever grew it out, it would get crazy like this.

Beth’s mom wears glasses and a huge smile. There’s something a little nerdy or gawky in her shape and the way that she carries herself, but she greets you with a hug and she’s friendly. In those first few minutes, as you follow her out of the airport to her car, you notice the similarities between her and Beth. It’s almost creepy. It makes you wonder if you’ve unconsciously picked up habits from your mom that make you seem like her weird clone when you’re together.

It's a pretty day, although the change in time zones has been rough. You jetlagged, and it’s cooler than you expected. It’s supposed to be the middle of summer, but it’s just warm, not hot and muggy.

At a glance, England doesn’t look too strange. The airport looks completely normal.

But the signs are slightly different. The cars are slightly different. They’re all driving on the wrong side of the road, and even the way that people dress is slightly different. Beth’s mom’s name is Shauna, and she drives a tiny, two-door car.

You’re curious enough about this strange place that you aren’t focusing on your irritation with the situation that Beth has put you on. Beth doesn’t complain about having to fold a seat down and climb into the back as you ride up front with Shauna. You can’t even tell what the maker of this car is. England has car companies that you’ve never heard of. Amazing!

“What kind of car is this?” you ask admiringly. It’s a little small for three people, but it’s cute and you like it otherwise. You can see yourself driving around Gurlberg in something like this.

You hear Beth cringe in the backseat. Gosh. She’s like this about everything. Is there nothing that her mother does that she approves of?

“Oh,” Shauna seems surprised by the question. “It’s a Clio. Have you traveled much abroad, love?” she asks you.

“Not at all,” you admit. “But I saw like four of the Harry Potter movies, so I feel like I’m prepared. When do I get my, uh, wand and stuff?” You see Beth glaring at you in the rearview mirror, and you pretend not to notice.