[A/N. I am still not sure I like this story. Taking the Curtis' and Two-Bit
out of the setting in which I was familiar with them in is a little harder
than I had expected. Of course I've tried to continue in keeping them as
real as possible, but whether or not I've succeeded I don't know. And just
a quick question: how old do you have to be to drink in America? I know
over here it's eighteen and it's the same in England! Anyway, enjoy it
regardless!!!]
TEN:
After we left the Tower we decided it was time to get something to eat. Or more accurately Two-Bit's stomach decided for us by growling so loudly that passers by looked at us in concern.
"Glory Two-Bit, your stomach sounds like it hasn't eaten in days." Soda said amazed.
"Well it feels like it too. Maybe it's just the London air doing it." Two- Bit suggested, not really ashamed at his stomach's musical performance.
"Huh?" Darry asked looking at him strangely.
"Well you know how people claim the country air makes them hungry? Maybe the London air makes me hungry." Two-Bit explained.
Darry muttered something I didn't quite catch, and we found a small pub which was advertising lunch specials. In England people quite often go down to the pub (or the local as they call it) for a meal and a few drinks, so it's not uncommon to eat there. As we walked in I was actually thinking about Mandy-I couldn't wait to get back and share all the things I'd already seen with her. I was sure someone like her would be interested in historical things like the Tower of London. Then I deflated suddenly. Mandy wasn't my type-she hung around with the socs. She was a soc by association if nothing else. She wouldn't want to know, she wouldn't care. Instead I trained my thoughts back on the present. The pub was fairly darkly lit, but a roaring fire provided warmth. The walls were dark paneling, and wooden beams were prevalent on the low roof. On one wall I spotted a deer's head mounted on a piece of wood. In short the pub looked like everything an English pub should, and the fact that it had just started to rain outside made it seem even more real.
We went through to the area reserved for meals only to order. Soda and Darry quickly ordered steaks and chips-their favorite meal. I hesitated before deciding to have a chicken parmagana and chips. Two-Bit however was in a quandary. "I want to try something really English." He explained to the woman waiting to take our orders. "I mean more than likely I'm never gonna' be back here so why not make the most out of it?"
"Why not indeed?" She repeated, smiling thinly. "If you want I can come back and take your order later?"
"Nah, tell you what, I'll go for the Yorkshire Pudding." Two-Bit declared, handing her back her menu. She smiled again, and then took our menus away.
"Okay," Darry said. "Decision time gang. With this rain beginning and not looking likely to stop do we continue with our plan to go to Buckingham palace or do we think of something different?"
"I don't really want to stand out in the rain." I admitted, shivering a little at the thought. "And to think back home it'd be nice and hot."
"Okay then suggestions gang?" Darry asked.
We tossed around a few ideas, none of which seemed great, and then Soda said, "I know this wasn't really in our plans because of time constraints, but why don't we try Madame Toussauds wax museum? I've heard about it before and apparently the figures there are so life like it's amazing!"
"Yeah," I said remembering seeing something in the paper once. "Didn't the Royal Family actually donate the clothing for their wax figures?"
"Well then what do you say?" Darry asked. "We give this wax museum a shot next?"
We all agreed and then I lit up a cigarette and so did Soda and Two-Bit. Darry doesn't smoke-he thinks it'll ruin his body. The waitress soon returned with our meals and asked us whether we wanted a drink?
"How about a beer?" Two-Bit asked hopefully.
"Are you eighteen?" The waitress asked.
"Sure am. And Darry here's even older!" Two-Bit said.
"Right a beer then, lager or bitter?" The waitress asked.
Two-Bit looked confused. I supposed he only ever thought there was the one type of beer, and then he shrugged. "I'll go the lager. And what about you Darry?"
I thought Darry might say no, but then he said "Sure, get me a lager too please."
"Right, two pints." The waitress wrote down, and then she turned to Soda and I. "And you two?"
"Coke for both of us." Soda answered.
She disappeared and we all began to eat. Two-Bit's Yorkshire Pudding was simply a lot of meat and vegetables inside the pastry and after taking a bit he declared it was delicious. A few minutes later the waitress returned with our drinks and Two-Bit took a big sip of his beer.
"Nice, very nice." He said. And then he grinned at me. "Pity you're such a kid still hey Pony?"
"A kid?" I snapped. "Two-Bit let me tell you something. I th-"
"Relax Ponyboy, I was just teasing you!" Two-Bit said with a grin.
*****
An hour or so later we arrived at the wax museum. As we lined up I was surprised to see it was so large. And as we reached the counter, I learnt it was also very expensive. It was sure lucky that the trip had included some spending money! We paid and went inside. The first scene we were greeted with looked like a posh garden party.
"The Socs would be at home here!" Two-Bit commented. And then he grinned. "Look it's the waiter from that English comedy-Fawlty Towers-go stand next to him Pony and let me take your photo."
With a grin also I went over to where the wax figure appeared to be falling backwards over the railing spilling the contents of his tray. I pretended to be pushing him over and Two-Bit took the photo. That set the scene for the rest of the museum. We clowned around and took photos with many of the figures. Soda posed with William Shakespeare, Darry posed with one of the old Kings, Two-Bit posed with one of the queens, I posed with Alfred Hitchcock, Soda posed with Michael Jackson before he turned white, Darry posed with a soccer hero, and Two-Bit posed with a clown. I couldn't believe how well done these wax figures were-they really seemed to be real! There was an area where we could see how they made the figures and learn a little of the history not only of the wax figures but also of the woman who had founded the place: Madame Toussaud herself. But far and away the best area was the Chamber of Horrors. A wax figure of a man in the process of turning into a werewolf was so life like I shivered. The way his head was thrown back and his fingers clenched made me think it must be painful.
After awhile we left the wax museum and headed back to the hotel. Even though it was only a little after five it was beginning to get dark when we emerged from the tube and began the walk back to our hotel.
"Well Pony?" Darry asked me as we walked. "How did you like your first day in London?"
"I loved it." I said enthusiastically. "London is cool Dar, and there is so much interesting history to learn-who would have ever though history could be interesting?"
"Certainly not me!" Soda said with a laugh. "But I have to agree with you there Pony-this is sure an interesting place. And there's still so much more to see and do. I better make sure to get a good souvenir for Steve!"
I wondered briefly whether or not to get a souvenir for Mandy. On one hand anything I could get her would probably be something a lot cheaper than what she was used to. On the other hand I did like the girl, so maybe something would show her how I felt? I decided not to think about it for the time being, and followed the others into our hotel.
TEN:
After we left the Tower we decided it was time to get something to eat. Or more accurately Two-Bit's stomach decided for us by growling so loudly that passers by looked at us in concern.
"Glory Two-Bit, your stomach sounds like it hasn't eaten in days." Soda said amazed.
"Well it feels like it too. Maybe it's just the London air doing it." Two- Bit suggested, not really ashamed at his stomach's musical performance.
"Huh?" Darry asked looking at him strangely.
"Well you know how people claim the country air makes them hungry? Maybe the London air makes me hungry." Two-Bit explained.
Darry muttered something I didn't quite catch, and we found a small pub which was advertising lunch specials. In England people quite often go down to the pub (or the local as they call it) for a meal and a few drinks, so it's not uncommon to eat there. As we walked in I was actually thinking about Mandy-I couldn't wait to get back and share all the things I'd already seen with her. I was sure someone like her would be interested in historical things like the Tower of London. Then I deflated suddenly. Mandy wasn't my type-she hung around with the socs. She was a soc by association if nothing else. She wouldn't want to know, she wouldn't care. Instead I trained my thoughts back on the present. The pub was fairly darkly lit, but a roaring fire provided warmth. The walls were dark paneling, and wooden beams were prevalent on the low roof. On one wall I spotted a deer's head mounted on a piece of wood. In short the pub looked like everything an English pub should, and the fact that it had just started to rain outside made it seem even more real.
We went through to the area reserved for meals only to order. Soda and Darry quickly ordered steaks and chips-their favorite meal. I hesitated before deciding to have a chicken parmagana and chips. Two-Bit however was in a quandary. "I want to try something really English." He explained to the woman waiting to take our orders. "I mean more than likely I'm never gonna' be back here so why not make the most out of it?"
"Why not indeed?" She repeated, smiling thinly. "If you want I can come back and take your order later?"
"Nah, tell you what, I'll go for the Yorkshire Pudding." Two-Bit declared, handing her back her menu. She smiled again, and then took our menus away.
"Okay," Darry said. "Decision time gang. With this rain beginning and not looking likely to stop do we continue with our plan to go to Buckingham palace or do we think of something different?"
"I don't really want to stand out in the rain." I admitted, shivering a little at the thought. "And to think back home it'd be nice and hot."
"Okay then suggestions gang?" Darry asked.
We tossed around a few ideas, none of which seemed great, and then Soda said, "I know this wasn't really in our plans because of time constraints, but why don't we try Madame Toussauds wax museum? I've heard about it before and apparently the figures there are so life like it's amazing!"
"Yeah," I said remembering seeing something in the paper once. "Didn't the Royal Family actually donate the clothing for their wax figures?"
"Well then what do you say?" Darry asked. "We give this wax museum a shot next?"
We all agreed and then I lit up a cigarette and so did Soda and Two-Bit. Darry doesn't smoke-he thinks it'll ruin his body. The waitress soon returned with our meals and asked us whether we wanted a drink?
"How about a beer?" Two-Bit asked hopefully.
"Are you eighteen?" The waitress asked.
"Sure am. And Darry here's even older!" Two-Bit said.
"Right a beer then, lager or bitter?" The waitress asked.
Two-Bit looked confused. I supposed he only ever thought there was the one type of beer, and then he shrugged. "I'll go the lager. And what about you Darry?"
I thought Darry might say no, but then he said "Sure, get me a lager too please."
"Right, two pints." The waitress wrote down, and then she turned to Soda and I. "And you two?"
"Coke for both of us." Soda answered.
She disappeared and we all began to eat. Two-Bit's Yorkshire Pudding was simply a lot of meat and vegetables inside the pastry and after taking a bit he declared it was delicious. A few minutes later the waitress returned with our drinks and Two-Bit took a big sip of his beer.
"Nice, very nice." He said. And then he grinned at me. "Pity you're such a kid still hey Pony?"
"A kid?" I snapped. "Two-Bit let me tell you something. I th-"
"Relax Ponyboy, I was just teasing you!" Two-Bit said with a grin.
*****
An hour or so later we arrived at the wax museum. As we lined up I was surprised to see it was so large. And as we reached the counter, I learnt it was also very expensive. It was sure lucky that the trip had included some spending money! We paid and went inside. The first scene we were greeted with looked like a posh garden party.
"The Socs would be at home here!" Two-Bit commented. And then he grinned. "Look it's the waiter from that English comedy-Fawlty Towers-go stand next to him Pony and let me take your photo."
With a grin also I went over to where the wax figure appeared to be falling backwards over the railing spilling the contents of his tray. I pretended to be pushing him over and Two-Bit took the photo. That set the scene for the rest of the museum. We clowned around and took photos with many of the figures. Soda posed with William Shakespeare, Darry posed with one of the old Kings, Two-Bit posed with one of the queens, I posed with Alfred Hitchcock, Soda posed with Michael Jackson before he turned white, Darry posed with a soccer hero, and Two-Bit posed with a clown. I couldn't believe how well done these wax figures were-they really seemed to be real! There was an area where we could see how they made the figures and learn a little of the history not only of the wax figures but also of the woman who had founded the place: Madame Toussaud herself. But far and away the best area was the Chamber of Horrors. A wax figure of a man in the process of turning into a werewolf was so life like I shivered. The way his head was thrown back and his fingers clenched made me think it must be painful.
After awhile we left the wax museum and headed back to the hotel. Even though it was only a little after five it was beginning to get dark when we emerged from the tube and began the walk back to our hotel.
"Well Pony?" Darry asked me as we walked. "How did you like your first day in London?"
"I loved it." I said enthusiastically. "London is cool Dar, and there is so much interesting history to learn-who would have ever though history could be interesting?"
"Certainly not me!" Soda said with a laugh. "But I have to agree with you there Pony-this is sure an interesting place. And there's still so much more to see and do. I better make sure to get a good souvenir for Steve!"
I wondered briefly whether or not to get a souvenir for Mandy. On one hand anything I could get her would probably be something a lot cheaper than what she was used to. On the other hand I did like the girl, so maybe something would show her how I felt? I decided not to think about it for the time being, and followed the others into our hotel.