Drinks with Everyone

“So what are you talking about?” Blair asks everyone.

“You know, the usual,” Abigail responds. “How the new year of students is the same as the old.”

“Every lower sixth is the same, until it’s not,” Blair agrees. “And don’t get me started on the Upper Sixth. It’s hard to believe that they’re the same girls who came to us last year all innocent and naïve.”

The conversation quickly devolves into complaints and complements. Individual girls are brought up to be praised or lambasted. You sit there listening, laughing when they laugh, shaking your head when they complain.

“I’ll tell you one way this year’s going to be different,” Blair finally states. “John here, I’ve already heard you’re a hit with some of the students. {if Krystal > 0} And some of the teachers. {endif} “ {if Blair = 2} After saying this Blair gives you a big wink. {endif}

“It’s wrong for girls to be chasing after teachers,” Anissa states. “They should be concentrating on their studies.”

“Come on, they’re teenagers, exploring their sexuality is natural,” is Krystal’s response.

“You’d never encourage such a thing, would you Monsieur Smith?”

“It doesn’t matter whether he encourages it or not, he’s going to attract crushes. I’ve always said an all-girls college is dangerous. For some of these girls he’s the only man they know who isn’t family.”

Krystal wants to say more, but Blair stops her with a hand on her shoulder and a word of warning, “Remember where you are, Krystal.”

Krystal acknowledges that. “Sorry. We’re all professionals. It was inappropriate of me to even joke about such things.”

Although you get the impression, she’s not that apologetic. But with that apology the conversation can turn to more palatable topics. Like exercise and stress.

“I find exercise a great way of ridding myself of the stress of teaching,” Blair tells everyone. “The gym is open to all teachers, as long as it’s out of school hours. And there’s the local leisure centre that’s fully equipped and as employees of St Perpetua’s we have automatic membership to.”

“What do they have?” Anissa asks.

Blair goes through the list; swimming pool, squash courts, tennis courts, five-a-side football pitches, all the gym equipment you could need, and courts that can be used for basketball or badminton or anything else you can imagine.

“I used to play badminton,” Anissa admits.

“Do you want to try badminton? We can book a court,” Blair asks. She’s already got the leisure centre app open and is scrolling through the booking arrangement. “Here, they’ve got Wednesday early evening free. Want me to book it? If we book now, we can reserve the time for the entire term.”

“Not for me,” Krystal holds up her hand. “Not my type of exercise. I’ll watch, but no co-ordination.”

Anissa nods. Abigail defers. Spencer’s hesitant.

“I’ll have to check with Chad first.”

“Come on, surely you don’t need your husband’s permission to have some fun with the girls,” Blair teases.

“No, it’s just, I should run it past him first.”

“Sounds like he wants to control you.”

Blair continues to chide Spencer, but you pay little attention to it. Something else is niggling at the back of your mind. Something about the conversation. What? What?

Hang about, Spencer’s married name is Mano. That means her husband is Chad Mano. You know a Chad Mano. He was in your year at school. He was the one of those jocks, big into rugby, big into using his strength and speed and popularity to get everything he could from the smaller, weaker, less popular students, like you. Chad Mano spent his school years bullying you and your friends. And Spencer is married to him.

Your reverie is broken by Krystal nudging you and stating, “Well that rules you out of playing.”

“What? Sorry I wasn’t listening.”

“Spencer was saying that Chad will let her play as long as it’s only other women. No men. So you’re out.”

“Really?”

“Yes, her husband is into all that alpha male bullshit, the man is the head of the household, and the wife is there to serve him.”

“It’s not like that. He’s just protective of me.” Spencer is defensive.

“Sounds more than protective if you ask me. Sounds controlling. Next, you’re going to be telling me he’s decided how many children you’re going to have.”

“Chad and I have agreed we’d like a large family, at least five children. That was a mutual decision.”

You can tell Krystal isn’t convinced, especially when Spencer states it’s time she heads home, because Chad is expecting dinner. Abigail, Anissa and Blair all agree one drink was all they wanted. Only Krystal wants to stay for more.

They all turn to you to see what you want to do. Go home or stay for another pint with Krystal?