Friday, September 16, 2005

Romper Room

Tonight Věra is celebrating her 18th birthday at U Zpěváčků, which is a large part of the reason that Monkey and I left there at about 9.30. We had to make an appearance because it was important to Věra, but as we are twice as old as most of her friends we had very little motivation to stay.

Věra works as a bartender at U Zpěváčků. The legal drinking age in the Czech Republic is 18 but Věra has been working in pubs since she was 15. I am not sure how that has worked.

Mike was working tonight. Monkey and I sat in the front room and talked to Mike while Věra and the other children were in the back. Věra was a good hostess, coming into the front fairly frequently to speak with us (and to order more drinks for her friends) and to invite us to join the party in the back. Monkey and I politely declined her invitations.

More and more kids kept coming in and walking to the back to join the birthday party, until finally I couldn’t hold it back anymore: “It’s like bloody Romper Room in here!”

Andrew the Surly Canadian piped up with, “I was just thinking that. All they need is lunchboxes with Casper the Friendly Ghost on them.”

The kids were looking at us distrustfully – perhaps because we are not much younger than (the same age as?) their parents. Monkey and I made our excuses as soon as we could.

5 comments:

AG said...

But you left before the grownups came in. JP, DC, RTM, AG with adult guests. Sorry we missed you but looking forward to a bar-b-que on Sunday.

Monkey's Max said...

AG, a sober Monkey waits for no man.

Charlie Parlay, I reckon the young lady got same last night, and then shortly thereafter she probably puked her guts out. Repeatedly. I don't miss being 18.

Monkey's Max said...

Okay, Monkey, it's completely wrong, but you have taken it out of context. Not fair.

Anonymous said...

I see you both as ageless. A smooth patch of well moisturized cuticle with little or no nail biting. A captivating beaded eyelash that bats with the best of them. A harp seal's fur that has escaped the clubbing of the rest of the herd. A soft, warm Downy fresh towel right from the dryer. I could go on but it's useless to write of things that are etched in stone and will never change. You are a sparkle on the waters of life my dear, vibrant and youthful forever.
K
I feel so wrinkly now; I should go iron certain parts of my anatomy.

Anonymous said...

Now you know how I feel. But you are only as young as you feel and somedays I do feel like l8 again.
drbellarina