Refried Scenes

David has been out doing errands, as he frequently does -- social anxiety rules out Matthew and Claire, general bad temper rules out Andrew most of the time, Greig is exempt by virtue of doing nearly everything else, and Gareth (not without reason) is considered too young to be out alone in a strange city.

Cigarettes for his brother, crystallized ginger for his sister, a fresh supply of crosswords and various other necessary trifles have all been acquired, but he's not in much of a hurry to get back; he fought with Andy again this morning, despite his best intentions, and the atmosphere is still precarious. He pauses at a corner, indecisive, and then on a sudden truant impulse ducks into the nearest doorway.