BR - The pub

Shauna’s doing something in the kitchen when she sees you and Beth heading out.

“Where are you going?” she asks, looking surprised.

“Pub,” Beth replies grumpily.

“Well, I’m coming too,” Shauna says, grabbing her purse. “For heaven’s sake, Elizabeth. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Beth rolls her eyes and drags herself out the door. You follow her around the building to the front, where she jerks the door open and gestures ironically for you to go ahead. Right. No PDA. It feels like you’re back in Gurlberg, where there are laws to keep people in the closet. You weren’t expecting much out of this trip. Some sightseeing. Maybe some interesting food. Some time to snuggle with Beth quietly, away from all the chaos of FUTA.

Nope. You’re getting none of that.

The pub is not like bars in America. It has an old-timey vibe, and it’s not full of TVs. It smells like fried food and beer. At least you’re in the mood to eat, and this is an opportunity to have actual, for real, fish and chips. That’s kind of neat.

You sip lager and eat while Shauna ruthlessly interrogates Beth about FUTA and America, which she has not visited since the 90s.

“And you didn’t look at my room,” she goes on. “There’s a window that lets you see over the row. You can see Richard Hammond’s house from my room.”

“I doubt that, mum,” Beth says, starting on a second tall glass of dark beer.

“It’s true. And they’re going to have an Apple store right there.” She points. “That’ll be nice.”

“Mmm.” Beth drinks more. While she’s occupied, you notice Shauna scanning the patrons, then peering out the window. You don’t have to be psychic to know what’s going on here. Beth has never mentioned her dad, but Shauna is seeing somebody. It looks like she’s not ready to introduce that person to Beth yet.

“And there,” she says brightly, pointing at a young man on the far side of the street. He’s carrying a backpack. “That’s Charlie Parker. Quite fit, isn’t he?”

Beth grunts and Shauna winces as Beth kicks her under the table.

“Stop it.”

“Well, I know you aren’t seeing Paul anymore,” Shauna goes on, glaring at her. “I had to ask him.”

Beth doesn’t look at you. “Mum, I’m working in America. I’m not going to have a boyfriend on the other side of the ocean.”

“Seems closed-minded to me,” Shauna says airily.

Your eye twitches.

“Mrrm,” Beth replies, draining her glass.

“I’ve looked at your program. Aren’t there any young men about?” she asks you.

“Uh… a few,” you reply. “Not a lot.”

“Well, how are you supposed to meet anyone there?” Shauna sounds frustrated.