Stella surveyed the patrons of the pub as her friend Becky leaned against the bar waiting for their drinks. Their new spot seemed crowded for the middle of the week, and they had both finished their first round before being able to secure a table.
Stella had never visited a pub until she met her college roommate, Becky. Her parents were both tea-total and had always frowned upon those who frequented such places. Stella was their only child. Her parents had wanted more, but her mother had miscarried when Stella was three and had nearly died as a result.
Unlike most similar cases where, after such a tragedy, the parents often over-indulge their first and only offspring, with Stella it was the opposite. There was no overabundance of hugs and kisses in her house. In fact, Stella could never
