picnicking near a pub

we stop at york gardens for a picnic lunch on the way home from school, a bit after noon. tally twirls across the green, practicing her ballet, while joe looks for koi in the pond. i spread the blanket and organize the bits and bobs.

a man wanders into the gardens and joins joe at the pond. i hear the two engaging in conversation. the man guffaws loudly "so you're american." this draws tally away from her pirouettes and toward the pond. she chats up the man as well.

After a bit, all three make their way over to our blanket. at the same time that i smell the beer emanating off this man, joe announces "i've used my good manners and invited him for lunch!" the man immediately plops down on our blanket. i decide to roll with it, and i divvy up the cheese sticks and pb&js. joe and tally revel in the man's attention for the short duration of the lunch. i keep my guard up and wonder just how many pints this man consumed in the short hour the barmy arms - the nearest pub - had been open. i also make a mental note to picnic further away from the pubs.