Sapphic Voices General Fiction

School Reunion

Julie had made a last minute decision to attend the 20th reunion party of the ‘class of 79’ and was already regretting it. She felt no link -- no common bond with this throng of people who were milling around, primping and preening.

As she listened to Althea - she had to check the name tag for the new surname - Cole-Buchanon [nee Bickle] - the boredom enveloped her again. What was she doing here? She’d heard story after story of their success, whether it be in their career, their marriage or their wealth. Had nobody failed? Or did the failures choose not to come to these pretentious affairs? She had herself succeeded in her chosen career but she had no desire to boast of her achievements. She was different from the others - she had always been different from the other girls. Why did she think that would’ve changed in the years they had all been apart? She wondered if she was being intolerant.

She forced a smile and congratulated Althea on the birth of her third child, only 12 days before. - girl or boy? Julie had already forgotten. She excused herself and wandered to the side of the hall, helping herself to a second glass of wine on the way. She made the decision that, once the drink was finished, she’d make her escape. Running fingers through her short hair with the ease of a long-standing habit, she hoped there’d be a taxi on hand.

Julie looked around - noting that most of her old classmates had partners whom they were parading with varying degrees of pride. She was just wondering if there was anyone in this huge crowd with whom she could possibly have any sort of connection, when a soft voice whispered in her ear.

“There’s an awful lot of talking going on Julie - but not a lot of listening I suspect.” Julie turned towards the voice, leaning her head back slightly to look up at a completely unknown face. She studied it, taking in the cool, grey eyes, the aquiline nose and the short, stylishly cut hair. She capitulated - and looked down to read this stranger’s name tag - only to find the expensive, silk shirt devoid of any clue of the woman’s identity.

A chuckle brought her head up again.

“I took it off. I wanted you to guess.” Julie decided to play along with the little game so she took a step backwards letting her eyes roam over the woman. She took in the tailored slacks covering long, slim legs, working her way upwards over the narrow hips, small waist and well-rounded breasts. She looked again at the now slightly flushed face, the smile faltering a little under her frank appraisal. She felt a stab of frustration, as she prided herself on remembering faces. It had been a challenge to her all evening - trying to pick the face before she looked at the name tag. She now felt irritated that there was no familiarity - no recognition of this woman.

Without warning, the woman dropped her head forward, hunched her shoulders and scowled up through thick lashes. A chord was struck in Julie’s memory, tugging at the edge of her consciousness - ‘God! She looks a little like ….No! It couldn’t be….’ There was no way that that skinny, shy, almost weird girl could have been transformed into this statuesque self-assured woman.

“Holly?” She was tentative -still unsure.

“Right first time. I knew you’d remember eventually. I knew you’d be the only one. I’m really here under false pretenses as I didn’t graduate with you all. You may not remember but I moved away in the middle of year 10. I hoped you’d be here. You were the only one I wanted to see.

Julie stood in silence - lost in thought as her mind went back 22 years. Holly had had no close friends - appearing to push people away. She’d seemed to be a complete misfit, even more so than Julie herself had felt. Julie still felt a twinge of guilt that she had conformed to the ‘norm’ so easily when she knew she was different. Looking back it seemed like a betrayal of the real Julie. Holly, however, had never compromised to fit in with those around her. She had just withdrawn into whatever world she’d chosen to inhabit.

There had only been the one time when Holly had allowed her emotions to show, had allowed anyone into her self-made cocoon. To this day Julie had no idea what had caused Holly to let down her barriers that day. She only knew that, walking past the empty classroom late on a Friday afternoon, she’d seen a figure huddled down in a chair, arms wrapped around her head to muffle the sobs which shook her bony 15 year old frame.

Julie had been unsure of what to do, as comforting - even touching- didn’t come easily for her. However, a wave of sympathy had carried her over to the forlorn figure.

“Holly. What’s wrong?” A touch on the shoulder had indicated her concern. She’d been totally unprepared for Holly’s reaction. Lifting her tear-streaked face, Holly had looked at Julie, given a heart-rending groan and had wrapped her arms around Julie’s waist, pressing her face into the newly-formed breasts, her shoulders shaking with the effort of controlling her tears. A hand had tentatively touched Holly’s head as Julie whispered soothing words. The gentle touch soon became a soft stroking of Holly’s hair, as she tried to smooth down the unruly locks, caused by Holly’s ruthless self-administered hair-cut only the previous week. Julie’s tense body had gradually relaxed as she’d stopped fighting the unaccustomed feel of Holly’s arms and face Her arms went around Holly’s head and the stream of soothing words dried up - leaving a tranquil silence.

Julie didn’t know how long they had stayed there, that day. They had been disturbed finally from their quietude by the sound of the cleaners’ voices down the hall. Julie had jumped with an unreasoned feeling of guilt and Holly had slowly released her arms and lifted her head. Julie was aware of a cool patch on her chest as the warmth, left by Holly’s breath, was chilled by the air.

“Are you OK now?” Julie had felt she had to fill the heavy silence within the room. Holly had nodded and stood up, brushing Julie aside as she’d made for the door. In the doorway she’d turned and given Julie a questioning look. Julie was ashamed to remember now how, in the embarrassment of the situation, she’d looked away.

Holly had made a point of avoiding Julie in the couple of weeks that followed and it had, at first, perplexed - then hurt - then angered her so much so that she also had avoided Holly and ignored the occasional, hesitant glance thrown at her as the school term had ebbed to a close. Holly hadn’t come back to school the next term and Julie had heard that Holly and her mother had moved away. She’d felt torn between relief that the awkward situation had resolved itself - and emptiness, sensing that a turning point in her life had passed her by - a path left unexplored.

Julie became aware of Holly’s amused face as she watched the expressions flit across her ever-mobile face, the memories capturing her with their unexpected clarity. Julie took a deep breath and forced her mind back to the present.

“Well,” she glanced again at Holly’s changed appearance, “you’ve certainly found yourself.”

“No.” The soft voice answered, “I never lost myself. You, however, were lost.” Holly lightly clasped Julie’s hand, her bracelet brushing Julie’s fingers, its chill causing a shiver. “I’m really glad to see you’ve now ‘found’ the real you.” Holly continued “I was counting on it.” She paused, “I never did thank you for …” Julie’s fingers covered her lips with a gentle, but insistent, pressure,

“No. No thanks are wanted. Please don’t.” Julie began. Holly tightened her grip on Julie’s hand as she spoke with urgency.

“I have to leave this place Julie. Come with me?”

Julie removed her name tag and tossed it onto a table.

If you have enjoyed F.J. Davey's "School Reunion", then please be certain to e-mail her at  francis7[at]bigpond.net.au  and thank her for posting this Story.

Click here for a list of all of F.J. Davey's Stories and Poetry at  Sapphic Voices Authoresses.