Arriving at Sheila's place.
Bart and Beck stood in the yard, dragging their feet.
Bart tugged at Dean's sleeve. "Dean, how's your mom doing these days?"
"Pretty good," Dean said. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "It's just that Thompson's been dating lately, and Mom often laments that she's going to be left all alone."
Bart breathed a sigh of relief. If she's in a good mood, at least Sheila won't lay a hand on him.
A pained expression crossed Beck's face. He muttered under his breath, "F**k. I should've spent some money to bring a girl back with me. Now I'm screwed."
Pressuring someone to marry is actually not uncommon here, especially in families with a strong collective atmosphere.
But no matter how reluctant Beck was, the seven or eight-meter distance was eventually covered.
The door to the house was open. Warm light filled the space, and the sound system played upbeat country folk music.
