THE PELICAN CLUB
There were a few clubs in Brighton, some high society ones, but plenty of middle- and working-class clubs. The group had chosen the Pelican club, which seemed most suitable for all parties. When they arrived, Mr Carson and Daisy both completely forgot about their previous tiff - both for very different reasons, however.
Mr Carson was immediately overwhelmed and soon filled with repugnance. Everything in that place was noisy and mucky. The dancefloor was sticky and full of obscenity. The bar was full of tasteless pretentious tipplers with colourful drinks in their hands and numbness in their eyes. And it seemed that the loud musicians didn't even know what the others in the band were playing, they were so out of tune!
On the other hand, Daisy was overcome with excitement. She finally got a taste of a world she's been dreaming of for years, and she was about to immerse herself in it fully. She felt like a movie star entering her stage. She couldn't take her eyes of off the flashy lights and flowy skirts. She started swaying with the music the second she walked in and was taken in by the echoing infectious laugher all around her.
They found an empty table with six chairs. The four elders sat down but Daisy and Andy immediately jumped on the dance floor.
"I feel so young." Mrs Patmore turned to them all giddy.
"Young?" Mrs Hughes couldn't believe her ears. "We are probably the oldest four in here." She looked around and laughed.
Mrs Patmore joined her chuckles but also noted a group of elderly ladies and gentlemen at the bar. "What about that group? They look about our age."
"Hmm." Mrs Hughes nodded in agreement and felt a sense of relief.
"Would you like to feel even younger and do me the honour of a dance, Beryl?" Mr Mason interrupted them, and they left the Carsons to tend the table on their own.
Elsie shifted on her chair to face her husband only to notice his absentminded hopeless expression. "Are you alright?" She asked, leaning closer to him, making sure he can hear her.
"I don't know, Elsie, it's not my scene." He explained, shaking his head as he turned his look away from a particularly boisterous group of young girls.
"Would it help if we got ourselves a glass of something?" She suggested gently, touching his arm. Normally she would be annoyed by his curmudgeonly behaviour, and she'd let him know. However now, she noticed his genuine pitiful look and realised he had already been made uncomfortable one too many times that day.
"It'll be a miracle if they have something I can swallow." He replied sarcastically but got up to purchase the drinks anyway. As he got up, he nodded towards the Masons who were just coming back from the dance floor.
It took Mr Carson a while to find an agreeable drink on the menu for them, but eventually he picked and grabbed two small glasses of whiskey for them; a double for him as he needed something fairly strong to get his through the night.
As he was coming back, he noticed an older man (from the group Mrs Patmore pointed out earlier) approaching their table from the other direction.
The man stopped in front of the housekeeper and offered his hand to her. "Would you like to dance miss?"
Mr Carson almost sprinted the last three steps, with panic in his eyes. "No, she would not!" He growled firmly, not letting her speak for herself. Both the man and Mrs Carson turned to him with their jaws dropped. The Masons also observed the situation with shock and interest.
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you, pal." The man put his hands up and backed off immediately.
Mr Carson mumbled something along the lines of 'I'm not your pal' but his words were very difficult to decipher.
"Word of advice, mate, she's a good-looking bird, maybe you should take her to the dance floor, pal, or someone will snatch her up when you're not looking!" He said, poking the bear a bit before he turned on his heel and disappeared.
Mr Carson ignored his last statement and sat back down with a frustrated groan, handing his wife her whiskey.
His already punctured ego suffered another punch when Mrs Patmore spoke up. "He's not wrong you know; you should loosen up a bit and go for a little jig. It's liberating."
"Hmpf." Was all Mr Carson could say. His eye was twitching, he wasn't sure which way to direct his anger.
Due to the awkwardness of the situation, Mr Mason found it a good moment to grab his wife and re-join the dancers once again, feigning excitement about a new song the band started playing.
Mr Carson took a huge gulp of whiskey first and then he turned to his wife and raised his eyebrows a bit.
"What?" Mrs Hughes mirrored his expression.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He took another big sip of his drink, gripping his other hand in a tight fist.
Watching his tense demeanour, Elsie felt like she had to reassure him. She smacked her lips and smiled at him before she spoke. "Nobody will snatch me up, don't worry, you silly old codger!"
"I didn't think they would!" He replied quickly. He would never admit it to her, but he was glad to hear her say it.
The couple went quiet again for a while before the dancers of the group returned to the table. The Masons and Andy almost had to drag Daisy out of the dance floor. They didn't keep them company for long as Mr Mason suggested getting drinks for everyone.
"Charlie?" Mrs Hughes turned to her husband with a pitiful smile; he really looked like he wasn't having a good time. "Would you like to go for a walk or something? Maybe wait for them in the pub next door?"
"I think I would" He nodded and looked at her eagerly as if she's just saved him from drowning.
Publishing early to make up for the time I left you all waiting before... I hope you are all still with me! x
Let me know what you think in the reviews xx
