Mercy Seat by Wayne Price Page B

slurring quite badly now.
    We can have a drink when we get back, Jenny interrupted. We’ve got more elderflower wine.
    Christine grimaced. Go on, she pressed, ignoring Jenny. Have one with me. She almost touched my arm, but drew back and stirred a fingertip in the spilled beer instead.
    Well, ok. But I’ll have a whisky, not vodka, I said, still avoiding Jenny’s glare.
    Have something, Jennifer, she shouted at her sister, but Jenny shook her head, eyes fixed angrily on me.
    Alex was still around and this time he caught my eye as I stood waiting at the taps. He wormed his way through to me and I noticed three young girls had tagged along behind him.
    Luke, he said. He was beaming and made a great show of shaking my hand. Hey, I saw Jenny, he said. I wanted to bring you all a drink but I couldn’t find you. He looked around him as if noticing for the first time that the place had become crowded.
    The girls behind him were staring at me the whole time he spoke. They looked in as bad a state as Alex. Mr Lewis, who’s your friend? one of them asked him.
    This is Luke, he said over their heads, and belched. Helives next door to me.
    Hello, the one who’d spoken to Alex said. She was olive-skinned and slim, a little older looking than the other two though it was hard to tell exactly – they were all heavily made up. Even so, none of the three looked old enough to be drinking.
    Let me get you a pint, man, now that I’ve found you, Alex broke in. I’ll be right back. He lifted his hand to me and made for the toilets.
    There was an awkward pause broken by the barman asking what I wanted. I ordered the vodka and whisky, hoping I could make my escape before Alex returned.
    We’re all in Mr Lewis’ Social Studies class, the slim girl said while I waited for the drinks. We couldn’t believe it when we saw him here. Do you know him really well?
    Does he come here often? one of the other girls asked – a blond, plump kid with a pretty face.
    Don’t know. I’m never here. I looked at them more closely. Only the Mediterranean-looking kid seemed much over fifteen.
    We come here quite a lot, she said, and the other two nodded solemnly. Mainly for the music. We know some of the guys in the bands.
    I didn’t have anything to say, so I nodded, wishing the barman would hurry up and get the drinks in front of me.
    We couldn’t believe it when we saw Mr Lewis, she went on. It’s good when teachers go out, like normal people, isn’t it?
    Mr Lewis is great, the blond kid added. Is his first name Alex?
    The drinks arrived and I reached to take the glasses.
    Where’s Mr Lewis? the third girl suddenly asked. Shewas further gone than the other two. Her short-cropped hair was black, but her skin looked almost albino pale under the ultraviolet lights and the heavy make-up around her eyes made her seem mesmerised. I headed back for the table, leaving them staring patiently at the door of the Gents.
    I was relieved to see Jenny and Christine talking again when I got to them, though the conversation died as soon as I took my seat. Christine drank quickly and Jenny didn’t waste any time once she saw the glass was empty.
    Ok then? she asked us both loudly.
    Christine stood up obediently, then started looking about her feet. Did I bring anything? she asked.
    Jenny shot me a glance. No, she shouted back, louder than she needed to.
    I thought I did. She glared intently for a while at the legs of my seat. I feel like I did.
    Come on, Jenny urged, looking at me.
    I got up and Christine took hold of my arm, gripping it hard above the elbow. Ok? I asked her, surprised at the contact.
    I’m fine. But help me get past all these chair legs.
    I pushed the table away from her and shunted the stools clear with my foot. Her grip relaxed a little but she still kept hold until I’d walked her to the door, Jenny following along behind.
    Outside, once we’d got up the narrow steps onto