eleven
As the night wore on, the exuberant atmosphere in The Jolly Rambler intensified. It was packed full of partygoers drinking, dancing and singing. Brian, Elizabeth and Gloria linked arms and swayed along to the music, laughing uproariously as the banter between them increased. At eleven o’clock, the DJ cut the music and shouted above the noise that the karaoke would be starting in ten minutes. There was a stampede for the bar before the punters got comfortable on the nearest seat with refilled drinks. Song booklets were passed around each table and everyone was encouraged to participate.
‘What d’you think, girlies?’ Brian snapped the booklet down on the wet table. ‘I reckon us three should do a Madonna song.’
‘No!’ protested Elizabeth. ‘If I must get up to sing, it’s got to be to a
