Part 45 (1/2)
”I didn't mean I should be going out to pubs,” Claire protested indignantly.
”Why not?”
”I never get to go anywhere,” Jacques said mournfully an hour later as he and Austin stood in the front window watching Claire and Dean walk toward King Street.
”Look at the bright side,” Austin observed as Mrs. Abrams hurried down her front path too late to corner them. ”It can be a dangerous world out there.”
”What does she look at?”
One hand shading eyes squinted nearly shut, Mrs. Abrams stared up toward the window.
The cat stretched. ”She's probably wondering if I'm the same cat who got Baby to hog-tie himself with his own chain.”
”Are you?”
”Of course.” He jumped down off the windowsill. ”Come on, it's Friday night, let's go watch TV.”
With a last curious look at Mrs. Abrams, Jacques turned and followed. ”TV? Is it like radio?”
”You know radio?”
”Oui. Augustus Smythe, le pet.i.t salaud, he leaves in the attic a radio. I have energy enough to turn it on and off, but I cannot make different channels. Over many years, I have learned English from the CBC.”
Austin snorted. ”Well, that explains a lot.”
”A lot?”
”You don't talk like a French Canadian sailor who died in 1922.”
”So I have lost my ident.i.ty to the English.”
”Although you still sound French Canadian...”
THE CAT IS ALONE!.
YEAH. SO?.
A gust of heated air wafted up from the pit. GOOD POINT.
”Why is it so dark in here?” Claire demanded, stopping just inside the door of the Beer Pit.
Feeling the pressure building behind them, Dean cleared his throat. ”Uh, Boss, we're blocking the entrance.”
”Technically, you're blocking the entrance, they could get around me.” But she moved across the painted concrete floor toward one of the few empty tables. ”Why is the ceiling so low?” Before Dean could point out that the pub was in a bas.e.m.e.nt, she added, ”And look at the size of these things. Why are the tables so small?”
”More tables, more people, more money.”
Claire shot him a look as she sat down. ”I knew that. The floor's sticky. You'll notice, I'm not asking why. Do you see the delivery man?”
”It's pretty crowded...”