Stumble

...inspired by 'The Outing' by Dylan Thomas His waistcoat full to bursting he harrumphed through the public house like Hell itself was after him and tripped, and missed his stool. "Pull me a pint!" he cried, "and never mind the bill, we'll settle up!" A face pricked like a strawberry, and just as red, spit spraying as he bellowed he was jovial, inebriated, in his cups before the opening bell and known to one and all as Stumble. The Snug was crammed, like-minded men determined for a belly full. At closing time they locked the doors and started on the bottles. They posted Ernie Jenkins as a lookout for the constable, lead tenor in the male voice choir. Dispensing with his duties he joined in with all the rest, pickled voices still in tune, until the pub was dry, the notes exhausted. Stumble bade goodnight to all the rest and staggered through the dim-lit streets, his true and constant friend the flying moon.