Alyx listened, slightly bemused, as the brats ran through several reasons why Emma was wearing an aloha shirt. She chewed thoughtfully on her pizza as the excuses contradicted each other and bordered on the ridiculous. At last she swallowed and addressed them.

"Have you forgotten that I actually know people who live in England and have visited a few times? I know you do NOT celebrate Halloween in May, and that you barely celebrate Halloween at all! At least, not the way Americans do!" Her tone was stern and she was growing increasingly suspicious, until her attention was diverted by what was happening near the bushes. "Hey! You there, Astral! Instead of kicking that didgeridoo, I want you to bring it here to me!"


[Sorry I was MIA for a bit. Had to attend a resident's meeting for the apartment building. As for root beer, I never realized non-Americans found it so objectionable! It's funny, though, because its roots (pun not intended) are the same as "small beer," which is a European invention. And apparently it started out as a tea. Anyway, root beer floats are delicious! ]