Kissing the kids goodbye and getting their spontanous "You look lovely Mummy" made her feel great. It was eight fifteen as she slammed the front door. If traffic was ok and she broke a few speed limits she should make it on time. Luckily the roads were clear: no lurking police cars and, she fervently hoped, no speed cameras, caught her hurtling down the motorway at ninety miles an hour to arrive at her old school at exactly eight thirty. She sat in her car praying that the hall would be dimly lit and already crowded.
Gemma, with whom she had always remained friends, had promised to wait for her just inside the door. Gemma was one of those women who just oozed confidence and glamour. She was a graceful five foot eight, with long slender legs; a stunning red head to boot. Still single, with a fantastic career in advertising she completed the whole glamour thing with a very smart BMW sports car.
Susie on the other hand, had never been very ambitious. Straight from school, she had started work as the office junior in a publishing company. Through natural progression, rather than effort, she had become PA to the senior partner. Undoubtedly, the best thing about the job was that she had met Jack, a brilliant novelist, whom she had married. She had left work ten years ago, to raise their three wonderful, demanding, adorable children. She had never regretted the decision to give up her career to stay at home. In fact, she had loved every minute of it. So why the self-doubt? Why should she be worried that her old classmates were going to think her life boring? Was it that deep down Susie was just a little envious of Gemma's lifestyle? Did she herself yearn for the career and flamboyant life Gemma had? She knew many of her old friends had it all; job, career, and family and were very happy. So was Susie feeling some slight discontentment with her life?
2
As she got out of the car, she caught sight of Gemma, looking her usual stunning self. As she walked through the door Gemma gave her a hug and squeezed her hand. Gem knew Susie had been apprehensive about coming.
"You look fantastic," she whispered.
Susie appreciated the kindness.
"It seems strange being back after all these years," said Susie.
"My thoughts exactly," replied Gemma.
They entered the hall; a woman Susie didn't recognise with clipboard in hand greeted them, she was handing out nametags, which thoughtfully had been issued with the ladies' maiden names on. "Great idea," whispered Susie," at least I won't have to worry about getting anyone's name wrong."
Apparatus hung along the walls, and the stage, with its old tattered velvet curtains hanging at the side and props from the latest school production still in place. It was just as she remembered (all be it smaller). There was a makeshift bar constructed from the old dining tables, bringing back memories of those dreaded school dinners. A few strings of fairy light had been draped around, trying to soften the mood.
Three hours later, she couldn't wait to get home to tell jack what a wonderful evening it had turned out to be. Jack, ever eager for ideas for a new book listened intently as she rambled on. To her complete surprise she saw friends who envied her. They were telling her how lucky she was.
Jackie, who travels the world, had been to places Susie only dreamt of. Living out of a suitcase, hotel rooms being home, is not as glamorous as it sounds. I would love to have a beautiful home that I could spend more than a fleeting moment in, she had confided to Susie
Ellen had a great career, two lovely children, who spent most of their life at the nursery, and a workaholic husband. She wanted nothing more than to give up work and stay at home with her children. Trapped into a lifestyle of nice house, exotic holidays and two cars meant she could not afford to give up work.
Then there was Sofie. She had a great modelling career. She had married Charlie. All the girls fancied Charlie at school; he was a real heartthrob. Susie had secretly been so envious of Sofie when she saw the wedding photos in one of those glossy magazines. How wrong could she have been? Poor Sofie, twice divorced no children. She had been quoted as saying it would ruin her figure. Her beautiful face had already been spoilt by too much cosmetic surgery.
As Susie cuddled up to Jack telling him how lucky she was, he smiled to himself. He knew how Susie sometimes envied others and had a few doubts about her life. He now knew that tonight Susie had found true contentment and he also realised how lucky he was too.
