Jerry was taken aback at this. "Who is she? What's her name? Which school and what does she intend?" Then he realised he was acting quite like his own father, and said, "Prom, my boy, is the school dance for the final year students. Consider it similar to the party we held last night, what got interrupted by the rats."

He elbowed his way over to the counter where he began helping. "I would say it would be good for you, of you promised to keep your little friend under control on the night." Jerry smiled at a half-remembered memory of his own prom. "There's all sorts of hell to pay if you're imprudent."