The night went from strength to strength with the little group playing some drinking games specially
designed by Seamus to make sure that the girls got slightly drunker than the boys. They sung along to
more Irish classics. The Town I Loved So Well,
Dirty Old Town,
Danny Boy and
The Irish Rover to name
but a few. Gary was astonished to find that Rosie had returned from a trip to the toilet and sat herself
down on his lap. He struggled not to get aroused but if anything, she seemed to be encouraging it!
He had never had such a night and then his bliss was shattered when in walked Jason the Motorbike Elf
and a group of his mates. Standing by Jason's side was Tallina Breeze.
Walter did not see her straight away as he was facing away from the door. But he noticed Gary's face
drop and he stopped fondling Tulip for a moment and turned to see who was there.
His gaze fell instantly on Tallina and she stared back. Both were equally shocked and the moment
lasted for what seemed like minutes to them. It was as if someone had turned down the volume on the
music and the rest of the room went out of focus. For those few moments as Walter stared, he could
only see Tallina. He could hear her breath, though the duke box played loud. He could feel her though
they were yards apart.
Then the spell was broken as Jason grabbed Tallina roughly by the arm and pulled her towards the bar.
Tulip put her arm round Walter's shoulder and tried to pull him back towards her. Walter shrugged her
off and stood up.
"Easy there mate," said Gary as he stood up to block Walter's path to where Jason and Tallina had gone.
Dave the Magic Barman sensed trouble and told the member of Jason's entourage that had gone to order
the drinks that they were closing. Despite his protest that it wasn't even eleven yet, Dave was insistent.
The message was passed onto Jason who gave Dave a dirty look before pulling Tallina towards the door and
beckoning his mates to follow."
"Come on, Babe," he said to Tallina, once again grabbing her arm roughly. "There's plenty of drink left
back at my place. Would have drank more of it last night but you insisted on having your wicked way with
me so early." As he said these words, Jason gave Walter a withering look and opened the door. Walter looked
at Tallina but this time she would not return his gaze. She looked slightly sad, as if ashamed and then
they were gone, leaving a great evening shattered.
Walter was numb and couldn't speak. He sat open mouthed, staring into his drink. Dave switched off the
duke box and came from behind the bar to sit in front of him. He brought a bottle of whiskey and four
tumblers with him and then poured one out for each of the elves and himself. It was a long time before
Walter spoke again.
"Why?" he eventually managed. "What does she see in him? Why him? She said she was breaking up with me
because she was frightened of losing me and couldn't handle it. He's the biggest bloody shagabout in town!
Different woman for every night of the week. He's just using her."
"To be fair, Walt, that is what you used to be like as well," Gary reminded him.
"I was never as bad as him! And anyway, Tallina was different. She changed me. I never wanted anyone
else once I met her. I bloody love her. Really bloody love her." A tear began to roll down Walter's
cheek. "You aren't going to tell me that Jason the Bloody Motorbike Elf loves her the way I do.
No bloody way. Why? Why? Dave?"
"I've seen this many times, Walter, mate. You really aren't going to like the answer very much if I tell you."
"It can't get much worse, Dave. Tell me. Tell me."
"It's pretty simple, Walter. She finds him more exciting. Maybe she found you exciting as well to begin
with, but then as you just admitted yourself, you changed. Am I not somewhere near the mark here
ladies?" Dave looked over at the three fairies who had respectfully kept quiet since the incident.
They each gave remarkably non-committal answers.
"What can I do, Dave?" Walter asked. "I want her back, Dave. He's not good enough for her. He'll hurt
her. I have to protect her from that, don't I? She's my little girl."
"I'm sorry, Walt, but in my experience you just have to sit it out. Let her find out for herself.
For the record, I think you are probably right, that Jason is no good. But you have to let her learn
by her own mistakes. Maybe when that happens she'll realise what she has given up."
"There must be something I can do," said Walter again, his voice trailing off as he reached the end
of the sentence.
"Come on, feller," Seamus interjected. "Let's walk these lovely ladies home and get you back to the flat."
So they left the pub after thanking Dave for his magical barkeeping and one by one took the fairies home.
The mood was very subdued. Before Rosie went inside her house, she pressed a piece of paper into Gary's hand.
For a few minutes he didn't dare open it but when he did his heart leapt to read the words 'call me' with a
phone number. He felt a twinge of guilt that he felt so happy when his best mate was at such a low point.
The three tumbled into my flat and headed for the sofa, from where I heard Walter's little voice say,
"Seamus, what was that you said about if I ever want to come over to Ireland?"
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