2000 School Magazine

or, 91n^I works

THE REUNION

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. I stepped out of the car onto the familiar pavement from my past. My husband had refused t accompany me. Smart move. I approached the door. I was in. On the other side of the room, she saw me, left her conversation and advanced towards me. I counted: 5.4,3,2, I. 'Julie! Haven't seen you for simply an age! You look fantastic for, how many children was tha again?" "Four;' I said. She calls upon one of her disciples. "Doesn't Julie look fantastic after she's popped out four kids? I could never do it. " "Four!" the disciple exclaims. "Oh, you poor thing. How do you manage? I couldn't stand to give away my life like that. " They nod in agreement. The disciple moves away. Suddenly I find myself attached to her, being escorted through the crowd. "I simply adore your dress, "she croons. "It's so quaint, just what I need for around the house. Where did you get it?"

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"I madeit, "I say.

"Oh, " she says. "How nice, " but her eyebrows tell another story.

Shehoro Mendis 10 Mockoy SelfPortroit Pointing

Reminding myself to be polite, I say, "How's Tony?" She says, "Julie, you are so behind the time! I'm engaged to George these days. " "I'm sorry. I'm sure you will be very happy together. " "I know we will, " she says. "He has a Feerri. And how's, oh what's his name agai

"Pault

"Oh, of course, that's it. How long have you been married?"

"Twenty years'"

"Goodness! I can't believe it's that long. "

While she clarifies this with another disciple, I gaze intently at the clock. Please. .. I will it. .. hurry up! Then we sit down to eat. The waiter comes around, offers us cake. I say, "Why that looks lovely, if I could just have a small piece. " She says, "With my weight problems! I simply couldn't, I'm fat enough already. " I look at her Size Eight mini skirt, scarcely clinging to her petite figure, then down at my own size fourteen waist. I push my plate aside and play with my napkin. She recounts the content of our conversation to her neighbour. I hear snippets, "Four kids'.. twenty years'.. her dress!... poor thing. " The clock laughs at me. We're standing again. She propels me across the room where her disciples are gathered. I am reintroduced as her"very good friend. " They smile, acknowledge, make eyes at one another. Someone says, "So when did you move here?" She recounts my life history. I stand awkwardly. They ask questions about me. She answers. We walk away again. Behind me, they titer. People begin to leave, I try to leave also. She says, "Why don't you come for coffee with me? We have so many good memories to catch up on. "

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Kerie Gou!I 10 England SalfPortmit Pointing

I look at her and I stand up for myselfjust once.

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"No; we don't':

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Koie Liney I I Liney The Dons WornkerTownsend Memono! Writers Coinp 2000

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