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A couple of hours later, I have a pretty good buzz going and the atmosphere in the room has become almost festive. Sophie’s holding court at the table, telling funny stories to me and Emma and Sharon, who, in the absence of any other customers, has made herself comfortable on a stool and left us to fetch our own drinks. Mike’s standing by the jukebox, putting together a playlist of old-time classics that’s already too long for us to get through before closing time. A few feet away, a decidedly wobbly Amy is standing in the middle of the floor with a pint-glass of wine and belting out the Bonnie Tyler classic Total Eclipse of the Heart. She’s getting the words wrong but singing it with gusto nonetheless.
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