Monie and I taught at the same school for several years, then life led us to different places. We were never friends, and often clashed with opinions, and I was surprised when last Thursday, after three years, I received a text message from her for a meetup. I knew her husband had left her and that she had a very hard time accepting it, so I was really looking forward to see her and give her a helping hand if she needed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I grabbed my handbag, stuffed it with the yr. 12 biology exam papers and strutted to our meeting place, Il Cibo, a busy cafe on the Mall. When I arrived, she was already sitting at the table for four, in the far corner of the caf\u00e9. She looked tired and forlorn, but managed a stifled smile when she saw me. I wanted to give her a hug, but she remained sitting and sizing me up, so I dropped my handbag on the free chair and sat opposite her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Long time no see, Monie. How are you?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Never better,\u2019 she said with a sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019m glad to hear that.\u2019 Nothing about her could convince me she was \u2018never better.\u2019 Her expression was tense, sullen. She was such a terrible actress, but I let her play her role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I ordered a flat white and a vanilla slice; she opted for a cappuccino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Never better and enjoying my freedom,\u2019 she repeated, fidgeting with her car keys. \u2018What about you? You look like you need a makeover.\u2019 She looked at me, focusing on my hair. \u2018Your hair is out of shape and a bit of make-up wouldn\u2019t hurt either.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our orders arrived, and she focused on the vanilla slice the waiter placed in front of me. \u2018No wonder you\u2019ve gained weight,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Thank you for your observation and free advice. You\u2019ve always been good at it, but I really like my vanilla slice. And my hair is long enough, so I put it up and it saves me the time in front of the mirror.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monie scoffed at my words, but I didn\u2019t care and waited for her next \u2018never better\u2019 hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Look at you, Meg,\u2019 she said, pointing to my overloaded handbag. \u2018You\u2019re carrying your schoolwork around even to a meetup, like it\u2019s saving you from a shipwreck.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019ve just finished the biology exam with my year 12 students and now it\u2019s the marking time, that\u2019s all. I believe you do the same at your school,\u2019 I said, enjoying my coffee and cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I do, but I don\u2019t carry my schoolwork around,\u2019 she said without looking at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Oh, Monie. It\u2019s been a long time since we saw each other.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She didn\u2019t comment but sipped her cappuccino, looking miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019ll better stick to my work.\u2019 I got up and took my handbag. \u2018Enjoy your freedom, Monie.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018As if you know what freedom is,\u2019 I heard her saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Maybe not, but it\u2019s good to have something to save me from a shipwreck. I smiled, but she didn’t respond. ‘I\u2019m glad we met. That\u2019s it then,\u2019 I said, and left. I never heard from Monie again. I’m sure she still enjoys her freedom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monie and I taught at the same school for several years, then life led us to different places. We were never friends, and often clashed with opinions, and I was surprised when last Thursday, after three years, I received … Continue reading