05

Mila's first week of school finally went well. She feels very comfortable in her new class, mainly thanks to her best friend and her teacher who masters sign language. She has always been very curious and open-minded, constantly seeking to know the why and how, and the new exercises that are offered to her seem to satisfy her thirst for learning. Every afternoon, I find her radiant, delighted to have succeeded in deciphering new words.

For me, the weekend is quite eventful. A rather popular group in the region put their guitar on the small stage of the pub on Friday and Saturday evening. Customers poured in all evening and we didn't make landfall with Abbi. Even if she is perfectly in shape from the height of her forty-five springs, I felt that she was on her knees this evening. Not easy to insure day and night. It is now one o'clock in the morning, usually closing time, and the pub is still crowded. I quickly run my hand through my hair to loosen a few strands stuck to my forehead. It's crazy hot here. Next to me, Abbi leans on the bar to rest her legs for a few moments. She splashes water on her face before straightening up, ready to go back to battle despite the fatigue clearly drawn on her features.

-You can go home Abbi, I'll take care of the closing.

- No, there are too many people.

- You are tired Abbi, you had a big day. I can manage very well on my own.

-Don't say anything Louis.

-You don't trust me? I provoked it knowingly.

She immediately looks up at me, clearly offended. If there's one thing I can't doubt, it's his confidence. Abbi is a complete woman. She gives everything to those she appreciates but beware of anyone who has fun betraying her. The second chance is a concept totally unknown to his repertoire.

-It has nothing to do with confidence and you know it very well. I would entrust you with the pub with my eyes closed without any problem. There are just too many people tonight. If I leave you alone, you won't go to bed until five in the morning.

I shrug my shoulders to show him that it doesn't scare me.

-If I see that I can't manage, I'll ask Thomas, Matthew and Charlie for a hand.

The evocation of my friends seems to convince her slightly. She gives them a searching look, probably to check their blood alcohol level. She then turns to decipher the clock and sighs as she rests her hands on her bulky hips.

- What time do you want everyone to be out?

- Two hours, not later.

-OK. I'll put a note on the beer pump and ask the singers to stop in half an hour.

She dithers for another minute before giving in with a yawn. I bustle about filling pints while she takes off her apron tied around her hips. When she's about to go through the back exit, she gives me a warm look and whispers a thank you. My smile is enough to reassure her one last time.

For the next half hour, I run in all directions. I immediately requisition Matthew, my closest and most helpful friend. Having taken the wheel, he did not drink alcohol. He roams the small dimmed room to collect all the glasses lying around and help me gather the empty and dirty plates. Charlie, slightly tipsy, offers me to wipe the glasses clean. Thomas, visibly disappointed at not having succeeded in recovering the number of a pretty redhead he had been coveting since his arrival, takes refuge in the kitchen where he gets down to the dishes.

At quarter past two in the morning, the last revelers leave the pub, a big smile clinging to their lips. I then collapse on the nearest chair. Even though I take off my shirt and work in a black short-sleeved t-shirt, I'm sweating. The lenses of my glasses are so dirty that I hardly see anything. Blame it on my habit of constantly pushing them up my nose. Charlie, Matthew and Thomas join me.

-Shall we have a last drink just the four of us? suggests Thomas.

I nod with pleasure. If I spent my evening filling pints, I did not have the leisure to dip my lips once. I pretend to get up when my friend motions for me to stay seated.

- Don't move, I'll take care of it.

Matthew, a sponge in hand, finishes cleaning the tables. Charlie disappears for a moment in the kitchen but she quickly returns with a bag of crackers in her hands.

-To mop up a bit, she admits with a guilty smile.

"I'll get you back," Matthew informs him without looking up from his chores.

-I counted on it!

Every time we go out, it's the same refrain. Matthew stays wise because he knows cheeky Charlie will need his brave knight to bring her back safe and sound. And Charlie doesn't notice the staring glances from the man who only has eyes for her. Is she doing it on purpose or is she really unaware of the nature of her feelings? I do not know. But I still feel a pang in my heart when I see how addicted Matthew is to her.

We gather around a wooden table. Our pints tinkle, our laughter resounds. We share our latest gossip. Well, them. Because I don't have much to tell. My life is nothing exciting. But this end of the evening is doing me a world of good.

- Good and you Louis?

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