Beer and sports - a night in town

[Albert Baker]

Al had decided it was time for a night out and he had found a sports bar that faintly reminded him of the Lion and Rose back home as it resembled a traditional pub. He had been even more delighted when he found out that they had Cricket on the list of programmes offered. So he had returned for the match Ramsbottom - Todmorden as he hadn't seen a game of Cricket in a long time and the shortened form was unknown to him. Thus he was sitting at the bar looking sickly pale and clad in a light blue tweed suit with a purple tie which was accompanied by brown dress shoes and a scarf striped in red, white and blue. Sipping on a beer he watched the toss.

[Albert Baker]

Bookkeeping

Blush+Drink

[Chambers]

Sometimes the night called for a quieter drink in more nostalgic settings. he had seen a few countries of the world buy this time and was content settling in the American city but that didn't mean home sickness did not bite occasionally and nothing said Oxfordshire like a traditional pub and a game of cricket.

The Scruffy British Scholar precures a pint of Guinness and looks for a seat. As it happens to complete his evening there is a gentlemen that looks like he could have been right out of the country club itself. Taking the seat next to the old man. ''Any good action so far?'' Hoping the fellow patron is up to date on his cricket terminology. A slight British accent is detectable.

[Albert Baker]

Al noticed the person sitting down next to him and nodded in greeting.

"That would depend on who you're supporting, sir. It is a decent game so far, but it seems Todmorden has a bad day and brought some rabbits out."

With a resigned sigh he took a sip off beer and gestured to the screen.

"As you see, there were already four cases of the Yips and a Golden duck. And all before the half of the innings."

Al remembered the times when the team had been better. Those on screen wouldn't win the Worsley Cup, but with luck they might win the match yet.

"Far from the team of '82, this one. But there still is potential..."

[Chambers]

Sir is it, very polite. ''Every team has a few, as long as there are no ferrets are on the field.'' That was just bad to watch. ''I don't have any real investment in either team, yourself?'' He sits back and sips his drink. ''Which might give away I'm not from the midlands.'' He watches the screen. ''A good game maybe not but an eventful one, lets hope the yips is not contagious tonight. I'd like to see some good play.'' A duck uncommon but not unheard of. ''You think a king pair might be coming?'' The man had seen more of the game so would have better insight. ''Or will it be turned around and we'll see a half century tonight?'' If someone can hold up an end maybe?

''Not a fan of '82 myself. The Australians won that one.'' I should remember to start following the ashes again.

[Albert Baker]

Al nodded. Ferrets would be worse and they would spoil the game.

"You're absolutely right."

Listening closer to the speech he narrowed his eyes. He recognised that accent, though he couldn't exactly put his finger on it yet.

"I'm sorry to ask but my ear for British accents has suffered a bit as I spent some years overseas. Might I ask where you're from?"

Al pointed to his scarf and explained.

"Todmorden. It's in the Lancashire league, but still more or less a club from home."

He nodded in agreement. A good play would be quite nice to see.

"So would I."

Al thought for a while on that, gauging what he had already seen.

"I hope not, but he looks like a candidate for it. We'll see."

Again he thought for a while.

"The potential is there, but I can't say for sure yet."

On the mention of the Australians Al looked surprised for a moment.

"Oh, the Ashes. I didn't mean those. I referred to the year when Todmorden won the Worsley Cup and I was there to see it. Apologies."

[Chambers]

And here in lies the occasional risk of being British in America. Very occasionally someone is aware that British accents are in fact a diverse and complex array of almost unrelated dialects, and then get curious where mine is from. He had already let slip once where he was from and the danger that presented was very real. But if he knows the accent it will look more suspicious if I don't answer. ''Oxfordshire.'' He says choosing to keep things conversational and thus hopefully less likely to draw attention. Besides if there are Seers or banishers in here they have no reason to suspect me. Lets keep it that way.

He continues to drink as the conversation picked up and the action played out. ''I see.'' That might explain it. ''Another from across the pond is it?'' Returning the question with interest. ''I should have realised.'' Apparently my ear for accents is also a little rusty. ''It must be nice to be able to see the home team play all this distance away.'' He had let such ties to his old life slip, a necessity.

''Well if not with enough rabbits on the field we might see a brace.'' Those were always fun, as long as it wasn't your team.

Shaking his head dismissing the apology as not needing one. ''Who wouldn't remember the highlights from their home team over the ashes that year.'' That might be harsh the cricket had been good from the recordings he had seen when he was younger. ''The best we've done in recent years is beaten finalists for the Unicorn trophy in two thousand and fourteen.'' That was before I moved good grief.

[Jasper]

The bell above the door jingles as in walks the stretched beanpole of a man that is Jasper. He ducks down so as not to hit his head as he crosses the threshold, pulling his paddy cap off the shock of wavy red hair that had been tucked beneath it. He's wearing white shirt beneath his leather coat, though the shirt has likely seen better days. His jeans are a bit scuffed at the knees and he's got a bit of grime under his nails. His boots are solid though, if definitely worn in. His face is clean, but for the scruff of a firey beard he's got growing, and his emerald eyes are clear.

He stretches to his full height for a moment as he glances about the room and then makes his way over to the bar. His accent is still quite thickly Irish as he asks the man behind the bar, "'ow much for a Guinness?" He pulls a wallet out of his pocket. The wallet looks to have been repaired with some duct tape. He peers into it for a moment after hearing the price. "What's the price for just a beer?" he asks. He glances over at the two men next to him, watching the game, or possibly watching him. Wouldn't be the first time the farmboy giant would draw someone's eye. He gives a nod to them if they are looking at him. "Evenin'. Who's playin'?" he asks, glancing to the game as he sinks his all too skinny frame into a seat, tugging a bowl of pretzels closer to him.

[Albert Baker]

Al nodded.

"I see."

Again he nodded. Things were in fact quite complicated but that wasn't a topic to talk about.

"Yes, though I've been in Canada for quite some time."

Then he had a mixture of a wistful look and the slight pain of continual absence from home.

"It is. Though being far away from home has quite a few disadvantages."

Nodding on the commentary about the brace, he looked at the screen again.

"We might, though depending on which team has it, it can be more or less fun to see."

Then someone new entered the room and posed the question who was playing. Al took his gaze off the screen and met the one of the newcomer.

"Good evening. It's Ramsbottom versus Todmorden."

[Chambers]

Another well travelled then. ''Canada, not been to that part of the world myself. Anything you would recommend?'' These conversations were the reason he took public transport and all the rest, get a feel for all the different experiences he had yet to have. New and differing perspectives. ''You look like you miss it.'' He raises his glass to drink. He had known homesickness back before things took a very different turn.

For many I imagine it must be so. Personally I find it a relief. ''I've heard it both ways. Those who enjoy the freedom of it, and those who find its hard without the things they knew around them. Personally I find there is plenty of opportunity to broaden horizons.'' To experience and to learn.

He chuckles a little. ''Indeed, my apologies I've been on the wrong supporting end of enough of them I should know better.'' It's what you get with minor league teams.

The door going doesn't make him look round, its a pub after all. The accent does. And the guy it belongs to does make him stare for a moment tall as his. Two Englishmen and an Irishman walk into a bar ... not quite there is it. He holds in the chuckle at his own bad joke. Noting the mans seemed poor fortune. Turning to the barkeep. ''Two more when you get a moment my good fellow.'' And when the two pints of Guinness arrive one will line up to replace his current when its finished, the other he will slide one over to the new companion. I've got the money after all and nothing breaks the ice like a free drink. ''You got a cricket team by chance?'' Can't say I know much about what happens over in Ireland's leagues.

Turning back to the older gentleman. ''And my new friend what of you, can I get you a drink?'' Because why buy for one and not the other, that would just be rude of me.