Page 27 of The Cruise Club

Dicky squinted and looked around the crowd until his eyes rested on Don. ‘Ah, it’s our Yorkshire friend,’ he said. ‘Did someone leave the farm gate open?’ Dicky paused. ‘I’m glad you’re not giving me directions. Last time a Yorkshire man told me to “Tek a reet”, I ended up in the sea.’

Dicky beamed. Everyone was enjoying his banter. ‘All right, gang, let’s get started,’ he said. ‘Has your team captain got a pen and paper, and have you chosen a name?’

On Fran’s table, Betty whipped a notebook out of her bag. She tore out a page then reached for a pen. ‘I’m in charge, and we are the Trivia Titans,’ Betty declared as she wrote the name down. ‘Everyone, up your game!’

Eyebrows lifted as guests around the table exchanged glances. The speed with which Betty took charge left the group speechless.

‘Question number one,’ Dicky shook out a sheet ofpaper. ‘You’ll all know this one,’ he smirked. ‘What year did the Titanic sink?’

Sid held his hand over his mouth, ‘I think it was 1914,’ he whispered.

‘No, nearer 1920.’ Colin frowned.

‘1912,’ Betty snapped and wrote it down.

‘What famous amusement park in California opened in 1955?’ Dicky looked around the room where the competitive spirit was thick.

‘Universal Studios!’ Fran smiled.

‘I’m sure it’s Sea World,’ Colin said.

‘Mickey Mouse Land.’ Neeta yawned.

‘Disneyland,’ Betty hissed and penned the answer.

‘One for the astronauts amongst you.’ Dicky nodded to the audience. ‘What was the name of the first manned mission to land on the moon?’

‘I know this…’ Sid drummed his fingers on the table.

‘It’s Apollo 10, I’m certain,’ Colin was adamant.

‘I really don’t care,’ Neeta sighed.

‘Wasn’t it Gemini something?’ Fran was puzzled.

‘Apollo 11,’ Betty spat out.

Tensions rose as Dicky switched the questions to a music round, and a man with a hearing aid banged his walking stick when he misheard a Frank Sinatra question. On Don’s table, a scuffle almost broke out over Elvis’s first hit, and when Don insisted that he knew the correct answer he was silenced by a dig of Debbie’s elbow.

When the quiz ended, Dicky took a break as he collected papers. ‘Time to refresh your drinks,’ he called out.

Betty, on her third Corinth Cocktail, had a smug smile.

‘I’m very impressed, Betty dear,’ Fran said, ‘you put us all to shame with your knowledge.’

‘My late husband, Des, and I weren’t known as the Quizards of Butterly for nothing.’ Betty was confident in their victory. ‘There’s many a trophy on my dresser at home.’

When Dicky returned to the stage, any camaraderie in the room was forgotten as The Smartinis,shaken not stirred, pinged olives at the In It To Win Its. Drink coasters flew like frisbees from The Correctors, who aimed them at the Smarty Pints, while the Trivia Titans, awaiting news of the winner, held their breath.

‘There have been some interesting answers,’ Dicky chuckled and smiled at The Brainy Bunch. ‘For example, in reply to “What was Elvis’s first hit?’ these good folk wrote, “Jailhouse Rock because Elvis accidentally locked himself in the bathroom…”’

‘I don’t think that’s very funny,’ Don said, ‘didn’t he die in there?’

‘Exactly.’ Dicky shook his head.

‘What was the correct answer?’ Fran asked.

Before Dicky could reply, Betty shouted, ‘“I’m All Shook Up!”’

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