On Friday the atmosphere in school is charged with excitement for our first night out in a country where alcohol is completely legal. Chastity and Mel and I promise each other to get dinners with the family out of the way as quickly as possible, so that we can get an early start to the festivities.
"Are my friends here?" I ask, aware of the men's smirks over my accent.
Bernie takes an unnecessary look around the whole establishment before answering, "Bah, non." The two men snicker. I shoot them a withering look, before mustering up every French skill I possess to produce a witty comeback, "Ah. D'accord. Eh..... D'accord. Au revoir!"
I fumble for the doorknob and make what is supposed to be a haughty exit as they all chortle into their drinks. After what seems to be an eternity of waiting alone (I catch the men peering out the windows every so often: they must be in need of entertainment), I finally see Chastity making her way up the street. She's in a zip-up Polo sweatshirt and miniskirt, and mid-story before she's even within earshot.
"Ok, so there's this nun at my house, right, and, like, I have no idea why she's there, I mean, nuns don't normally just come over to say hi or have tea or whatever, so anyway, she gives me this look as I'm going out, right, like I half-expected her to cross herself, she was so scandalized. But it's like, she's a nun. What's she gonna do? Whew!" She takes a breath, "Where's Mel? Have you been waiting here alone all this time?"
"Yeah, and these two guys are making fun of me," I gesture towards the window, where they are now tapping on the glass and waving.
Chastity squints. "Are they cute?"
I roll my eyes and follow her inside, pointing triumphantly and announcing to Bernie, "Look, I've found one!"
He grunts. The men giggle. We take a seat in the corner booth and pretty soon Mel is making her entrance. She is breathless and disheveled as usual, her loose t-shirt being pulled off her shoulders by the strap of her messenger bag, and she has a mischievous grin on her face, like no matter what happens tonight she's totally up for it.
"Ladiesss!" She slides into our booth. "What's up, what's up? Ready to get our drink on?"
Chastity's face lights up. "Omigod, I already have been. My host mom, she makes these things they're called Kirs, they're like, amazing. They have like champagne in them and some kind of fruity flavoring- anyway, she made me have like two before I left...."
"I take it this was pre-nun," I interrupt.
"Oh, well, yeah, but..."
"Wait, hold up, what nun?"
I leave Chastity to explain and excuse myself to the bathroom to reapply eye-liner. When I return, there are three pints of beer on the table, which we clink together enthusiastically.
"Cheers!" Mel cries before tipping hers back. Our friends at the next table just can't get enough- luckily they have pints of their own so that they can mimic our actions. Pretty soon, however, their attention is distracted by a more important spectacle than three Americans on their first Friday night in France. The football game is on.
The atmosphere in Bernie's changes dramatically as the opposing team begins to gain dominance over Rennes.
"Mais, alors!!!" The men cry at alternating intervals. "Ah, c'est chiant, ca!"
Even the typically stoic Bernie shows an uncharacteristic display of emotion when, after a near-goal by the Marseilles, his mustache twitches slightly.
We are on our third pint of beer when, in the final quarter, Rennes begins to pick up speed. First, a deftly placed goal by a forward in black and red. Then, their midfielder slips one by. The game is tied two to two and the atmosphere is electric. The men are on the edge of their seats, clutching their mugs and clenching their teeth. As our team passes the ball expertly up the field, both the televised crowd and our friends begin to chant, slowly, then gathering in speed and intensity, "Rouuuuge et noir...... Rouuuge et noir....... "
Chastity, Mel and I exchange grins and chime in, "Rouge et Noir, Rouge et Noir,"
The men are on their feet now, "Rouge et Noir, Rouge et Noir,"
We all pound on the tables, "Rouge et Noir! Rouge et Noir!"
Rennes is dribbling toward the net as the clock winds down. "ROUGE ET NOIR! ROUGE ET NOIR!! ALLEEEEZZZZZZZ..................."
The hum reaches a climax as the star forward scores and the crowd explodes, "AYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A burst of black and red confetti rains down upon the spectators and players, who are leaping and dancing into a bear hug as the other team slinks back to the benches. Our new friends are ecstatic, frolicking around the bar as Bernie pumps out another round of beer for us all. That’s the first moment. The kick-off into a whole new ball-game. And with three beers under our belt, we decide it is time to head to Preston's.
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