Episode 2 - Schools Back In?

Its the last but one day of the year.

Its raining like it nearly always does and nothing much is happening.

I went to the old school reunion at a local pub restaurant. There was four of us there - me, Richard, Jane and Sian. I was very nervous about it and in lots of ways didn't want to go and didn't see the real point of it all. Off and on, over the last 20 years or so, I'd been in touch (usually by accident) with Jane - we have a mutual friend who lives nearby and when Jane visits I occasionally speak to her. One thing led to another and there I was, stood in the bar clutching a cold beer like my life depended on it, next to three other people I was friendly with almost 20 years ago!!!

Most of the evening passed in a bit of a blur. We talked a little about the past. We said things like, "Ooh, you haven't changed very much at all!" whilst trying not to notice the little collection of chins and love handles that we were in the process of growing. The wine flowed and talk turned to how we all are now - you know, married, divorced...single etc.....the nature of relationships and stuff. In fact we used to talk about these very same things - relationships, except back then we were all trying to start one with some one or other. Back then, though, it was over a pot of tea whilst puffing on a cigarette - probably angry about something or other and full of piss and wind.

But, as they say, all things must pass and soon enough our evening ended, joining all our other recollections of the past. We parted with hand shakes and hugs and into the cold and blustery night we all, one by one, disappeared.

And now I'm a day older plus 20 years and feeling vaguely depressed about the whole thing. The thing is, I left school without saying much and practically disappeared for all that time - no body really noticed as far as I could tell and meeting them all again made me think why are you here and why am I here? What was to be gained?

More than likely it was just curiosity and now sated, where do we go now?

Only time will tell.