Page 18 of Shake Your Boo Thang

I follow Callum inside to the reception visitor area and then we take some stairs to a help desk. The staff person there listens to Callum’s explanation of what he’s looking for.

The older gentleman hands him a form. “You’ll need to get a free reader’s ticket to consult original documents.”

Callum completes the necessary paperwork and we’re both issued reader’s tickets.

“I recommend consulting with one of our archivists in the Research and Inquiries room,” the older gentleman says, pointing us in the appropriate direction.

Callum makes a beeline for one of the archivists’ tables and repeats his story. She gives him an apologetic frown. “The more detailed records you’re probably looking for aren’t held here. You’d need more information on the actual building at the site during the time period you’re inquiring about. A name, a business license, permits, etc. Without that, it’s a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack, I’m afraid.”

Callum frowns. “Don’t you have licensing records?”

“Some, but it depends on what sort of license and which authority issued it, especially for London commercial premises. You’ll want to look in the local borough archive relevant to that street address first. Once you get some more particulars about any building during that time, any potential owners or operators, years of activity and such, then we can look more specifically for any documents the National Archives might hold pertaining to the business.”

Callum sighs. “I suppose I was a wee bit overeager and jumped the gun.”

She smiles. “Don’t worry, we get that a lot. Lots of people think we can access what they need a lot quicker than is realistic. But once you do have more information to narrow our search, feel free to come back. We’ll be happy to help you then.”

We thank her for her time and head out into a blustery October day that has me zipping up my jacket right quick.

My stomach rumbles and I rub it, smiling. “What do you say to a bite of lunch?”

Callum looks at his phone and frowns. “I suppose it’s about that time, eh? Let me check something first.” He taps something into his phone and nods to himself. “The borough archive we need isn’t open today, but it is tomorrow.”

“Does that mean we have the rest of the day free to do some sightseeing?”

“I guess so,” he agrees, a tad warily. I don’t hold it against him.

I find his grumpiness just gets cuter and cuter the more I get to know him.

“So about that lunch…” I waggle my eyebrows.

He rolls his eyes and strokes his chin. “Do you like curry?”

“What, like Thai curry or Indian curry?”

“I know a good curry shop that we can get to on foot if you don’t mind walking a wee bit.”

I straighten my purple bow tie and give him my most winning smile. “Lead on, darlin’. I’m more than happy to get some exercise. It’s so lovely that so much of this city is walkable. It’s not like that back home in Alabama.”

As we walk, Callum asks, “What’s it like there?”

“Well, Mama and I live in an outlying suburb of Mobile, which is teeny tiny compared to London. It doesn’t have a whole lot in the way of walkable parts, and public transportation isn’t anywhere near as extensive or efficient as what y’all have. Folks need to drive to get most anywhere, and in the dripping hot, steamy heat of summertime, you definitely want the air-conditioned ride rather than trying to walk anyway.”

“I can’t imagine living somewhere without decent public transportation. But then again, I’ve only lived in Edinburgh and London, which both have excellent rail and bus services.”

“It sure is handy, I would agree. But having a car can be nice, especially when going anywhere outside of a city.”

“Yeah, I’ve hired a car a few times for some road trips, and once when I went camping with some mates.”

I chuckle. “I think I’d be a menace on the road trying to drive on the opposite side of what I’m used to.”

Callum snickers. “You’re probably right. I’ve witnessed my fair share of traffic collisions involving tourists trying to drive over here.”

I laugh. “I’m not surprised. To be fair, you might find it just as challenging to drive in our countries.”

“Touché.”

We arrive at the curry shop in short order, and it’s not anything like I expected. Then again, I’m not even sure what I was expecting about a place to eat that’s called a shop.