Quiz Night at the Centre

Every second Thursday, the community centre on Baker Street holds a quiz night. Sofia had never been before, but her colleague Ryan had insisted. “It’s a friendly place, isn’t it?” she asked as they walked in. “Of course,” Ryan said. “Nobody takes it too seriously.”

At the door, a volunteer explained the rules. “You don’t have to buy a ticket in advance, but you must write your team name on this card. You mustn’t use your phones during the game.” Sofia put her phone away and chose the name The Late Learners.

The first round was about geography. “I love maps,” Ryan whispered. “So do I,” said Sofia, “but I’m terrible at capitals.” At the next table, a man said he couldn’t remember a single river, and his partner replied, “Neither can I.”

The second round was about music. The quizmaster played a few seconds of a song. “That must be a Spanish singer,” Sofia said. “It can’t be,” Ryan answered. “The lyrics are in Portuguese.” He was right, and she felt embarrassed. The next question was so confusing that nobody at the table was sure.

It was such a close competition that the quizmaster needed a tie-breaker. Sofia was exhausted, but the final question was fascinating: which animal sleeps standing up? “Horse!” they shouted together. They finished third, and Sofia was thrilled.

On the way home, she was already planning to return. “It was a really enjoyable evening,” she said. “I have been looking for a hobby like this for months. And it’s free next time, isn’t it?” Ryan laughed. “It’s free every time. You just have to bring a good team name.”