Free Dory's Avengers by Alison Jack

hitting the booze and it's not even five o'clock yet?’
    Once again Dexter paused, debating whether or not to burden Louis with his problems before finally handing Louis the letter he'd been reading.
    â€˜This,’ he said simply.
    The letter was on headed notepaper of fine quality, bearing the Hotel and Catering Sponsorship logo on the top of the page. It was short and to the point:
    Dear Mr Montfiore,
    I have written several times to you, the senior owner of The White Lion Inn, Applethwaite, regarding your continual rejection of the Hotel and Catering Group's generous offer to endorse your business. It has come tomy attention that, following the highly successful Sponsors’ Fair on July 2 nd , you allowed a level of drunkenness in your bar that put both your business and the safety of your customers in jeopardy. It has also been brought to my attention that sponsored individuals are using your facilities, which must be brought to a stop with immediate effect. Hotel and Catering representatives will be performing spot checks on your business until such time as I receive your completed application for endorsement. A form is included herewith.
    Mr Montfiore, I trust that you will appreciate the need to proceed in this matter with the utmost urgency. Until The White Lion Inn is properly endorsed it cannot be regarded as suitable for use by those benefitting from the Sponsorship Scheme. The Hotel and Catering Group has no wish to see such a fine inn go out of business. Therefore I wish to be in receipt of your completed application form by Tuesday July 12 th . If I am not, I will be forced to consider alternative forms of communication.
    Yours sincerely,
    Anthony Wright
    Director, Hotel and Catering Sponsorship Group
    â€˜Are you going to apply?’ asked Louis, having read the letter twice. It didn't make any happier reading the second time around.
    â€˜No,’ said Dexter simply. ‘My grandfather was adamant to his death that this business should never be crippled by the limitations of endorsement. You heard the rules on Saturday; only up to four drinks per adult per day, maximum of ten per week. Controlled tokens for the fruit machines. Pool and darts can only be played in front of a Sponsoredreferee. Food on the menu sacrificing flavour to strict Sponsor-controlled nutritional ideals.’
    Dexter paused briefly, then added with a wry smile, ‘No same sex couples allowed to share a bedroom.’
    Louis started with surprise. ‘Did you make that last bit up?’ he asked.
    â€˜Not at all,’ replied Dexter. ‘Homophobia's alive and well in the land of Sponsorship. You'll find it thinly disguised as an attempt to instil Christian morals and family values into the minds of the population.’
    Dexter ripped the letter and application form into pieces before dropping them into the bin. ‘They can do their worst, I'm remaining true to Grandad,’ he said. ‘After all, we want more great nights like Saturday, don't we? Hey, Jess is back! Hey, Jess, how was Italy?’
    Still beautiful in her mid-forties, Dr Jessica Donatelli, the Italian mother of Abi and Cameron, entered the bar with a huge smile and showered Louis and Dexter with kisses.
    â€˜Good to be back, guys,’ she said, her English that of a native speaker as she'd lived in Applethwaite since the age of six. ‘Sorry I missed the fair; Abilene said it was a great success.’
    â€˜Abi said that?’
    â€˜Actually, she said the evening following the fair was the success, Dex. You're right, there's no way my daughter would ever praise anything connected with the Sponsors. Oops, it is just us in here, isn't it?’
    â€˜Sure is,’ said Dexter. ‘Now, can I get you a drink on the house, Jess, or is that going to earn you a public flogging from Pro Spo?’
    â€˜I'll take the risk, Dex, thank you,’ said Jess, laughing. Leaving Jess chatting happily to Dexter about her trip to visit