P - Page 670
pencil heelled adj. A drinker who advances on an improbably narrow basis, especially between tables and the exit. Cora-rae went pencil heelled across the crowded bar without disturbing a single coat. pencil holdered adj. A drinker so far gone that every loose object becomes a receptacle for tickets, pens, and coins. Zayvier was pencil holdered, storing the taxi receipt inside an abandoned pint glass. pencil laddered adj. The state of being drunk and climbing carefully towards the exit, with no useful means of descent. Huriyyah became pencil laddered on the pub steps and required a strategic pause. pencil leaded adj. The condition of a drinker who supplies the dark, decisive line between last orders and going home. Jenis was pencil leaded, drawing a firm line beneath further rounds. pencil moustached adj. Slowed by drink to a narrow, carefully maintained line of conversation. Tenara became pencil moustached, speaking in a thin stream about bus connections. pencil mustached adj. The drunkenness of one who maintains a narrow, carefully trimmed dignity while missing the last bus. Luan was pencil mustached, thin-lipped and composed beside the locked bus station. pencil necked adj. Reduced by drink to a narrowness of bearing suggestive of an unusually economical throat. Suyai became pencil necked, accepting the whisky with a neck of negligible apparent capacity. pencil parered adj. Reduced by drink to a revolving point, continually seeking the sharpest route towards the taxi rank. Devven became pencil parered and circled the block looking for a shorter way home. pencil pined adj. Softened by drink into a quiet, evergreen longing for the familiar road home. Yairy went pencil pined and gazed fondly towards the street where the night bus stopped. pencil pleated adj. Sharpened by drink into a series of neat folds, each concealing another reason to delay departure. Avary became pencil pleated, arranging excuses for every missed bus. pencil pointered adj. Loosened by drink into a person who can indicate the taxi rank but cannot approach it directly. Oliviagrace was pencil pointered, gesturing accurately while walking in arcs. pencil pouched adj. Emboldened by drink to place every essential item in one small bag and trust the zip. Caribbean became pencil pouched and put keys, receipts, and one glove into a tiny case. pencil pushered adj. Slowed by drink to the pace of routine paperwork, particularly when signing for a coat. Ako got pencil pushered and took several minutes to complete the cloakroom claim. pencil pushinged adj. Drunk to the point where leaving requires paperwork, duplicate copies, and a meeting about the route home. Nazmir was pencil pushinged, producing forms for the taxi journey nobody had requested. pencil sharpenered adj. Drunk enough to reduce every conversation to a point, then use it to open another round. Siedah became pencil sharpenered and found the precise argument for staying. pencil skirted (/ˈpɛnsəl skɜːtd/) adj. Of a drinker: constrained to a narrow social silhouette, with no evident capacity for turning round. Mercides remained pencil skirted, navigating the crowded supper room sideways and without apology.