Hard by the church stood the public house; so often the two are closely conjoined, honorably sharing both joys and sorrows.

I had a dream about you. You were a stranger playing a gig in this pub where I was waitressing. I felt like I knew you or needed to, so I asked you to have a few drinks with me. Then my alarm went off. I sat up in bed to see you still sleeping. I’m glad I decided to wear a kilt that summer while I was in school.

Afternoon drinkers shifted in the gloom as if they sensed new blood.