So eventually I managed a 100-word story - but it's really a chapter from a novel I started writing about a decade ago... I'm now thinking it'd be a good idea to drag it out and get it finished!
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Rosemary read the invitation to the school reunion
and sighed. She knew what it would be like – everyone else looking lean and
successful, boasting about their perfect lives, wonderful careers and beautiful
children. She decided not to go - but then Annie phoned and asked her to
help.
The day arrived far too quickly. Rosemary went along to the old school and spent all morning with Annie and a few others, putting up bunting in the hall, moving chairs and tables, then setting out the food and drink.
By lunchtime, Rosemary was miserably aware that her cheeks were burning crimson and sweat was dripping off her fringe. She could have taken a shower – but she had no fresh clothes, only the grey trousers and mauve top that she had put on that morning. She thought it would have to do, until she saw the silky, figure-hugging dresses that Annie and the other ‘old-girls’ were wearing now.
She went and splashed cold water on her face and began to wander around the hall. She met a few people from her year and had small, unthreatening chats. When anyone asked questions about where she was in her life, she was as vague as possible.
Eventually, someone rang the small hand-bell that had always been used at morning assembly. Like a vast pack of well-trained dogs, the old boys and girls became silent and still. There were speeches to be endured next, but one person turned and started to leave. Rosemary caught sight of her face.
It was Jill – older but just as pretty. Her blonde hair was shorter, but she was still slim, in a simple blue top and a long green skirt. She was as dazzling as ever. They looked straight at each other. No mistake. Rosemary took a deep breath, and walked outside too.
‘Still gorgeous, then…’ Rosemary spoke to her for the first time in about twenty years.
‘You’re looking great yourself,’ replied Jill, ‘What have you been up to all this time?’
‘Oh, keeping busy, you know. I’m still working in the Path lab.’
‘Still the same old Ro…’
It was awkward at first.
When they were children, they had been inseparable. Their friendship had lasted all through school, until Rosemary met Steve and fell heavily in love. Steve would conjure up such exciting things to do and she would follow him like a spaniel, forgetting all other plans. Jill soon realised that Rosemary was lying when she said she was too busy to go out - and suddenly they were no longer friends, not even speaking.
Once he married Rosemary, Steve changed – or maybe he reverted to his real nature. They rarely went out together and they argued more and more. It was mainly the same argument: Rosemary longed to have a baby, but Steve always said no.
Rosemary said, ‘Steve and I are divorced - nearly six years, now.’
‘Yes, I heard. Was it really difficult?’
‘I’m ok. Until a week ago - I went to a party. He was there, with his latest love. Some scrawny little kid called Claire.’
As Rosemary spoke, Jill’s face changed. First, she looked surprised and shook her head, but as Rosemary described the girl and the way she had talked about their ‘love at first sight’, Jill began to look annoyed.
‘That’s strange – he’s never mentioned this Claire...’ Jill said, with a frown.
Rosemary struggled to understand.
‘Are you still in touch with Steve, then?’ She watched Jill’s face carefully. Was she blushing?
‘Well, yes, we’re friends, of course.’ A dab of scarlet glowed on each cheek.
Of course?
‘Do you see much of him?’ Rosemary was sick of being polite; she had to know more.
‘Well, I see Steve – yes. But I’ve never met this Claire. He can’t be that serious about her…’
‘It looked serious to me – well, Claire thinks it’s serious…’
‘No,’ Jill said, with a quick shake of her head. She was staring past Rosemary again.
Rosemary studied Jill’s perfect face. Could it be that Jill and Steve ... Why hadn’t it ever occurred to her? Those last few years with Steve had been awful; nothing but lies about late nights, missing weekends, mysterious bills and always that argument about having a baby.
‘When did you meet him? Was it recently?’ It was clumsy, and not the question Rosemary really wanted to ask, but she had no idea what to say.
‘Yes,’ replied Jill, vaguely. ‘Well, I really must go. A friend is minding my children and I can’t stay…’
‘Children, Jill? – er, that’s lovely – what are they like?’
‘Tammy’s five and Petra’s six. They’re quite a handful.’
Jill had the air of a bird about to fly, but Rosemary put out a hand to stop her.
‘What does Steve think of them?’
‘Oh, he’s great with them. Well – he’s just a big kid himself, isn’t he? The girls adore him.’
She gave Rosemary a quick peck on the cheek saying, ‘Lovely to see you again. We must meet up! Bye for now!’
The day arrived far too quickly. Rosemary went along to the old school and spent all morning with Annie and a few others, putting up bunting in the hall, moving chairs and tables, then setting out the food and drink.
By lunchtime, Rosemary was miserably aware that her cheeks were burning crimson and sweat was dripping off her fringe. She could have taken a shower – but she had no fresh clothes, only the grey trousers and mauve top that she had put on that morning. She thought it would have to do, until she saw the silky, figure-hugging dresses that Annie and the other ‘old-girls’ were wearing now.
She went and splashed cold water on her face and began to wander around the hall. She met a few people from her year and had small, unthreatening chats. When anyone asked questions about where she was in her life, she was as vague as possible.
Eventually, someone rang the small hand-bell that had always been used at morning assembly. Like a vast pack of well-trained dogs, the old boys and girls became silent and still. There were speeches to be endured next, but one person turned and started to leave. Rosemary caught sight of her face.
It was Jill – older but just as pretty. Her blonde hair was shorter, but she was still slim, in a simple blue top and a long green skirt. She was as dazzling as ever. They looked straight at each other. No mistake. Rosemary took a deep breath, and walked outside too.
‘Still gorgeous, then…’ Rosemary spoke to her for the first time in about twenty years.
‘You’re looking great yourself,’ replied Jill, ‘What have you been up to all this time?’
‘Oh, keeping busy, you know. I’m still working in the Path lab.’
‘Still the same old Ro…’
It was awkward at first.
When they were children, they had been inseparable. Their friendship had lasted all through school, until Rosemary met Steve and fell heavily in love. Steve would conjure up such exciting things to do and she would follow him like a spaniel, forgetting all other plans. Jill soon realised that Rosemary was lying when she said she was too busy to go out - and suddenly they were no longer friends, not even speaking.
Once he married Rosemary, Steve changed – or maybe he reverted to his real nature. They rarely went out together and they argued more and more. It was mainly the same argument: Rosemary longed to have a baby, but Steve always said no.
Rosemary said, ‘Steve and I are divorced - nearly six years, now.’
‘Yes, I heard. Was it really difficult?’
‘I’m ok. Until a week ago - I went to a party. He was there, with his latest love. Some scrawny little kid called Claire.’
As Rosemary spoke, Jill’s face changed. First, she looked surprised and shook her head, but as Rosemary described the girl and the way she had talked about their ‘love at first sight’, Jill began to look annoyed.
‘That’s strange – he’s never mentioned this Claire...’ Jill said, with a frown.
Rosemary struggled to understand.
‘Are you still in touch with Steve, then?’ She watched Jill’s face carefully. Was she blushing?
‘Well, yes, we’re friends, of course.’ A dab of scarlet glowed on each cheek.
Of course?
‘Do you see much of him?’ Rosemary was sick of being polite; she had to know more.
‘Well, I see Steve – yes. But I’ve never met this Claire. He can’t be that serious about her…’
‘It looked serious to me – well, Claire thinks it’s serious…’
‘No,’ Jill said, with a quick shake of her head. She was staring past Rosemary again.
Rosemary studied Jill’s perfect face. Could it be that Jill and Steve ... Why hadn’t it ever occurred to her? Those last few years with Steve had been awful; nothing but lies about late nights, missing weekends, mysterious bills and always that argument about having a baby.
‘When did you meet him? Was it recently?’ It was clumsy, and not the question Rosemary really wanted to ask, but she had no idea what to say.
‘Yes,’ replied Jill, vaguely. ‘Well, I really must go. A friend is minding my children and I can’t stay…’
‘Children, Jill? – er, that’s lovely – what are they like?’
‘Tammy’s five and Petra’s six. They’re quite a handful.’
Jill had the air of a bird about to fly, but Rosemary put out a hand to stop her.
‘What does Steve think of them?’
‘Oh, he’s great with them. Well – he’s just a big kid himself, isn’t he? The girls adore him.’
She gave Rosemary a quick peck on the cheek saying, ‘Lovely to see you again. We must meet up! Bye for now!’
And then she was gone, like a tornado leaving a
trail of wreckage in its wake. Rosemary felt sick and fled to the toilets,
where she could sit in private. Steve had remained adamant that there would be
no children. They were too young to be parents, he’d said. Babies would spoil
everything.
Whenever Rosemary started on the subject again, Steve had been harsh. ‘If you want love, get a cat,’ he’d said, ‘Kids are too expensive, they ruin your life. If you get pregnant, I’ll be out of that door the minute I hear about it. I mean it.’
And all along it was Jill – those girls had been born since Rosemary’s divorce. Steve hadn’t left them. Steve was great with them; they adored him…
Eventually she went back to the reunion.
Nobody seemed to notice her destroyed state. She occupied herself with finishing up as many sandwiches and slices of gateau as possible, washed down with plenty of wine.
Whenever Rosemary started on the subject again, Steve had been harsh. ‘If you want love, get a cat,’ he’d said, ‘Kids are too expensive, they ruin your life. If you get pregnant, I’ll be out of that door the minute I hear about it. I mean it.’
And all along it was Jill – those girls had been born since Rosemary’s divorce. Steve hadn’t left them. Steve was great with them; they adored him…
Eventually she went back to the reunion.
Nobody seemed to notice her destroyed state. She occupied herself with finishing up as many sandwiches and slices of gateau as possible, washed down with plenty of wine.
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