‘Why’s it closed?’ Ajay reaches for the salt.

‘Council cuts. They said it cost too much to run and let it fall into disrepair. Now there’s so much work needs doing to it. It needs a new roof, for starters, after last year’s storm blew holes in it.’

‘So does my cottage,’ I groan.

‘It’s always a new roof.’ Ajay shakes his head, along with the pepper.

‘You should set up a crowdfunder,’ suggests Maya.

Valentine frowns. ‘What’s that, when it’s at home?

‘It’s a way of raising money on the Internet,’ I explain. ‘You ask for a small amount of money from a large amount of people.’

‘What people?’ Now Valentine looks really bewildered.

‘All kinds of people,’ shrugs Maya. ‘People who live locally, friends of friends, strangers, businesses. People from all round the world.’

‘You’re telling me a complete stranger from the other side of the world would donate money to fix the roof on our village hall?’

Maya nods. ‘If it goes viral, yeah.’

‘Well, I never.’ He shakes his head.

‘That means if lots of people see it,’ says Ajay helpfully, but Valentine tuts impatiently.

‘I know what going viral means,’ he says impatiently, turning back to his Yorkshire pudding. ‘Why do you think I have my flu jab every year?’

The Three Degrees win, followed by Emergency Brexit. We come a respectable third. Our prize is a round of free drinks. As I’m collecting them from the bar, I spot Ben walking in. He doesn’t notice me and goes straight to the other end of the bar. He orders a drink and I watch him talking to the girl serving him. He’s being very friendly. Some might say flirty. The girl is laughing and flicking her hair. I look away and walk back to our table. It’s none of my business.

‘Fancy seeing you here.’

A few minutes later I glance up, to see Ben standing next to me. He’s smiling and I get the sense this isn’t his first pint.

‘Ah, of course. The Quiz. I should’ve known – you always were brainy.’

He seems a little unsteady and his cheeks are flushed. He rocks backwards slightly on his feet and his beer spills over his glass.

‘Hi, Ben, how are you?’

He’s drunk, and I feel a slight beat of concern.

‘I think you’ve all met . . . Ajay, Valentine, oh, and this is Maya, one of my pupils.’

Ajay nods, while Valentine says, ‘How do’ and there’s some small talk about plastering and painting. Maya, now reunited with her phone, smiles politely, then continues scrolling furiously. God only knows how many posts and likes she’s missed during the hour it was turned off.

‘I should have asked if you wanted to be on the team,’ I continue brightly, trying to head off any potential awkwardness. Absently I wonder who Ben’s come to the pub with or if he’s on his own.

‘Oh, no, I’m not clever enough.’ He shakes his head dismissively. It seems to roll backwards on his shoulders. ‘Make sure you study hard. You don’t want to end up like me,’ he warns Maya, laughing as he raises his pint to his lips.