A Red Dead Redemption Story

Chapter 446 Barley John’s Funeral

Standing outside the hall, Arthur looked at his young son who had dropped the unfinished cigarette and stamped it out after he arrived, and asked calmly:
"When did you come back?"

"Not long."

For a moment, both father and son didn't know how to continue the conversation. Arthur looked at his 'rebellious' young son Geraint, and finally did not choose to ask him where he went before coming back, and then did What.

"Tonight is the birthday party of your uncle Sean's boy, Wei An. Since you are back, you will go with us when your sister is finished."

"understood."

Communication between father and son is always more difficult than between father and daughter at certain times.

Arthur reached out and asked Geraint to light a cigarette for him, while listening to the content of the speech in the venue, he said:

"That's almost it. There will be a dinner party at this party. Go and help your sister get out."

Geraint nodded, entered the hall, and walked straight towards the podium from the middle.

Betsy's speech continued.

"Prohibition will promote the development of society. From now on, there will no longer be fathers who are addicted to alcohol, and there will no longer be children who feed on rat meat in order to survive! There will be no families that lose their support because of alcohol. This This great country will finally give women the right to participate in elections this year! I will also participate in the elections at that time. I am truly honored to live here, in this best era where countless ancestors have fought for our interests. !”

The audience applauded again.

At this time, Geraint also came to the audience with a suit in hand, and whispered in the ear of Betsy who was bending down:

"Dad said it's time to go."

After saying that, Geraint continued to leave towards the right, while Betsy returned to the podium with a look of regret and said:
"I'm sorry, ladies, I have to inform you that due to some urgent matters, I have to take my leave first. I regret that I can't have dinner with you."

"Oh." There was a regretful voice from the audience.

Fortunately, Veresa, who was sitting behind the podium, signaled the audience to be quiet in time, saving Betsy the trouble of having to think of an excuse to stay.

"Finally, I want to end with these words. Without the continued support of decent, kind-hearted people like you and me, Prohibition is nothing more than a piece of paper. Thank you and God bless you."

Accompanied by encouraging applause from the audience, the two siblings Betsy and Geraint walked out of the hall. Arthur, who was waiting here, put a coat on Betsy and said with a smile:

"Rat meat? I remember this was not included in your speech before?"

Before Betsy could answer, Geraint interrupted:

"On the battlefield, we ate dog meat once, but rat meat? I think it's hard for most people to have that kind of difficulty, right?"

Betsy sighed and motioned to the driver to get in the car. She helped Arthur open the door and said to Geraint:
"First of all, it's nice to meet you, my stupid brother whom I haven't seen for a long time. Secondly, the first principle of politics is to never let the truth ruin the story you have prepared for your audience."

"Yes, I'm glad to see you too, my dear sister, and I have to remind you that you haven't become a politician yet," Geraint shot back.

"I……"

"Okay, you two little guys." Arthur, who was already sitting in the car, opened the window and continued:
"Get in the car quickly, I don't want everyone at the birthday party waiting for me."

……

The car failed to reach the entrance of the Saint-Denis Hotel. The streets were full of citizens holding bottles of wine. Tonight was the last night before Prohibition took effect, and the entire Saint-Denis was in a final carnival.

"Dad, where is Charlie?" Geraint asked, following Arthur who got out of the car and walked.

Arthur replied while greeting acquaintances passing by on the road:

"I asked him to go help me with something."

"Hi, Mr. Morgan." "Good evening."

"Mr. Morgan, did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

"Obviously not as good as you, Wendell."

Seeing that Arthur didn't have enough time to continue explaining to himself, Geraint asked Betsy who was standing next to him.

"How's mom doing?"

"Miss you so much, and then she's still mad at you," Betsy said.

"...She won't beat me, right?" Geraint said worriedly.

Betsy rolled her eyes at Geraint, and then said sarcastically:

"Why do our war heroes still worry about being whipped with a stick by their own mothers?"

"Hey, why are you so specific? Didn't mom's stick break long ago when she spanked the second brother? Don't scare me."

When Geraint abandoned law school and joined the army, he didn't even dare to return home and ran away overnight.

Arthur and his group were walking and stopped at the intersection.

A team of colorfully dressed and bizarre teams carried a coffin merrily, playing pipes and playing tunes, and the surrounding pedestrians raised bottles in salute to the team.

Their red cheeks were filled with happy smiles, just because what was lying on the coffin was not a corpse, but a giant bottle of champagne tied with fireworks. Everyone who was responsible for carrying the coffin held a bottle of liquor as they walked. Drink and toast with the onlookers while drinking.

"They shouldn't have put out champagne, after all it's Barley John's funeral, isn't it?" Arthur said with a smile.

Betsy looked at the people carrying the coffin in the procession and the 'We will miss you' banner they pulled up, and said helplessly:
"Dad, it's obvious that drunkards are not so particular about it? Also, if you continue to watch here, we will really be late now."

"Oh, okay, let's go. Betsy, I am already an old man. In terms of time concept, you shouldn't be too harsh on me?"

As Arthur said this, he looked at a couple pushing a stroller passing by. They held their child in their arms and filled the stroller with drinks.

"By the way, Geraint, have you prepared a gift?"

Facing Arthur's inquiry, Geraint wanted to tell his father that he had no money.

Yes, after he abandoned the path that Arthur had arranged for him, his family cut off financial support for him. Now he is a pauper and has no money to prepare gifts.

"Of course, Dad, I'm ready."

Betsy naturally didn't believe what Geraint said, but seeing that Arthur had no intention of questioning, she didn't expose her brother.

"Hey! I want to buy gin!"

"I want some rye!"

"Is there any more champagne?"

The entrance to the Saint-Denis Hotel was filled with stalls selling drinks for final clearance. After all, after dawn, these items would no longer be legal, and a large number of citizens were rushing to buy them.

"Mr. Morgan, this way." Henry, a black man who was no longer young, was waiting at the door.

"Thanks, Henry, are Sean and the others here?"

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)