The Reunion, Paula Rosenberg [best summer books .TXT] 📗

The Reunion

It was an unusually cool night for late July. Fortunately the massive thunderstorm local meteorologists had predicted no longer seemed to be a threat, which was good since the school had neglected to plan for an alternative location in the event of rain. As Frances Greco sat at the wooden picnic table at the marina and observed her former classmates, she could not believe that ten years had already passed.

“I know this is weirder than I thought it would be,” commented her friend Aja who seemed to be reading her thoughts.

Frances and Aja were born and bread in Prescott and had been best friends since the first grade. Prescott was a small, lake front town in Northern Ohio that’s only claims to fame were the giant cheese wheel in front of Gunderson’s Dairy (which boasted to be the largest in the Midwest) and for being the exact halfway point between Toledo and Cleveland.

“Isn’t it amazing how much people’s appearances can change even only after ten years,” Aja continued.

That was easy for her to say thought Frances. Aja looked exactly the same as she did the day they graduated. She looked amazing in the simple tangerine sundress she was wearing tonight. It complimented her rich cocoa toned skin. She was tall and despite going through childbirth three times, she had maintained her hourglass figure. Frances was still lamenting the additional ten pounds that took up residence on her midsection after giving birth to her own son, Andrew.

Aja was one of a handful of girls from St. Maria Goretti High School that Frances had managed to keep in touch with. Bridget O’Donnell had moved to Cleveland a couple years after Frances. Bridget had been a great help to Frances by offering to baby sit free of charge whenever she was stuck at work late. After Bridget married Randy and they started there own family, Frances was able to return the favor by occasionally watching their children so they could enjoy a night on the town in peace.

Bridget was currently a few tables away, chatting with Angela DiNappoli and Lucy Norman. The three of them had been cheerleaders for St. Sebastian’s, the all-boys high school down the street. Frances thought it was funny that she had struck up a friendship with the former top of the pyramid since during their adolescence they had run in completely different circles. There were a lot of things that happened after graduation that she never could have predicted.

Frances had also kept in touch with Lisa Carlson, though mostly via e-mail and Facebook. Lisa had been her lab partner in both Bio and Chemistry. She had recently finished medical school at The University of Toledo and was missing the reunion because she was at a Pediatricians convention in Detroit.

Lastly there was Ann Ambour. All eyes at the reunion seemed to be focused on the breathtaking blonde sitting at the table with Aja and Frances. Ann had been wise to keep her aviator sunglasses on her face the entire time. No one recognized that Hollywood’s new it girl was in their presence. Indeed Ann was introducing herself by her real name, Judy Farkle.

Judy’s family moved to Prescott during sophomore year. She was a timid teen who aside from Aja and Frances, kept to herself. She was in the school choir and drama club, but never went out for solos in the holiday concerts and only had minor roles in school plays. She was an excellent student and her 1550 SAT score, high GPA and a stellar audition secured her a spot in Yale’s drama program.

New Haven had been good to Judy. After shedding fifty pounds, appearing in some summer stock productions, and receiving a rave review for her Miranda in a Shakespeare in The Park production of The Tempest she had reinvented herself. After moving to LA, undergoing a nose job and liposuction, dying her hair, and changing her name her metamorphosis was complete.

Everyone at the reunion was buzzing about how good looking “love-handles Farkle” had turned out. Frances agreed that her friend had indeed gone from awkward duckling to lovely swan, but still thought her hair looked better in its original chestnut shade.

“You’ll never guess who the bartender is,” said Ann as she resumed her set next to Frances.

“Who?” she asked.

“Tim Fitzgerald.”

“As in St. Sebastian’s star quarter back, Tim Fitzgerald?” asked Aja.

“Yup. He just asked me what I was doing after the reunion. Can you believe it? He never even acknowledged my existence during high school,” continued Ann.

“Well you showed him. He’s a bartender stuck in Prescott and you’re an Academy Award nominated actress,” said Aja.

“Shhh,” whispered Ann.

“Oh sorry. I forgot we’re the only ones that know that,” apologized Aja.

Ann was dying to go to this reunion just to see how others would react to her new figure. However, she didn’t want any of her former classmates to discover her true identity. The press would have a field day if someone had leaked photos of her awkward years to the tabloids. Ann could picture the headlines-Starlet Ann Ambour: Former Fatty! She had only relented to come to the reunion at the last minute when Aja and Frances had promised that if she used her real name and kept her eyes covered no one would suspect a thing. She had managed to full them all, but didn’t want to risk being found out so she decided to take her leave.

“I’d better get going too,” said Aja.

“You’re not going to leave me alone are you?” asked Frances. This was the first time in years Frances had been able to enjoy an evening without the responsibilities of motherhood tying her down. Not that she minded. Andrew was her whole world. She was grateful that her father was willing to watch him this weekend.

After seeing the pleading look on Frances face, Ann and Aja agreed to stay for another drink.

“What the hell. This is one of the few times in the past decade I haven’t been knocked up or nursing. It’s a rare opportunity for me to take advantage of an open bar,” laughed Aja as she went up to get another rum and diet coke.

Frances found it ironic that Aja, the former wild child in their trio ended up having a relatively drama free life after high school. Their senior year Aja had started dating Don Jetters the power forward on Prescott High’s varsity basketball team. Don won an athletic scholarship to Ohio State and Aja followed him to Columbus. After college they proceeded to get married and wasted no time on starting their brood. They had a daughter Simone almost a year to the date of their first anniversary. The twins Devon and Walter were born two years later. Aja indeed had come a long way from the fifteen year old who used to through parties every time her parents were out of town and sneak out of study hall to enjoy smoking a joint behind the statue of the Blessed Virgin.

“Would you like another drink Fran?” offered Ann.

“I’ll take another Midori Sour please.”

Frances was delighted to see that Hollywood hadn’t spoiled Ann. Indeed Ann hadn’t grown accustomed to being waited on by others. Despite the massive makeover and accolades being thrown her way, gorgeous Ann Ambour still thought of herself as bulbous nosed Judy Farkle.

Frances knew something was wrong when she saw Anna and Aja making a quick dash back to the table without any drinks in hand.

“We need to leave now,” said Aja as she grabbed Frances’ hand and tried to pull her from her seat.

“What’s going on? Oh no did someone recognize you An…I mean Judy?” asked Frances.

“No. We just need to get out of here,” insisted Ann.

As Aja and Ann were fussing with Frances, they neglected that the man that had run into- the reason they were in a hurry to leave, had followed them back to the table.

“Hello Franie,” he said.

Ann and Aja were blocking the man from Frances’ sightline, but she knew it was Anthony.

“Hi Tony,” replied Frances.

Aja and Ann let out an audible sigh of defeat.

“Do you still want me to get you a drink?” Ann asked Frances.

Frances knew it was really code for do you want us to leave you alone with Anthony Martino, and a part of her did think it would be safer to get up and leave. Instead she just nodded and with that Ann and Aja left.

“It’s been a while Franie,” said Anthony as he slid into the seat next to her.

“Almost ten years,” she acknowledged.

Memories started to flood Frances’ mind. Anthony Martino was the best looking guy at St. Sebastian’s. Beyond his looks, Tony also had the distinction of being cliqueless. As a member of the swim team, captain of the Model United Nations group, and first baritone in the acapella group he was popular with everyone. Frances knew him from Model United Nations. They had both sat on the Security Council Committee their junior and senior year.

Like every girl at St. Maria’s, Frances had a huge crush on Anthony. Other then their study sessions for United Nations, she never got to spend much time with him. She would have given anything to have gone to the prom with him, but he been dating Lucy Norman since freshman year so it was out of the question. Frances didn’t even go to prom. Instead she picked up an extra shift at the rec center where she worked. She was feverishly trying to save up. Frances had an academic scholarship for University of Pennsylvania. She intended to work that whole summer, so she’d have money for her living expenses in Philadelphia.

It was a sweltering day in July when Anthony had shown up at the rec center to take a dip in the pool. Frances was working the cash register at the concession stand. He had noticed her and came over to chat. He told her that Lucy had just dumped him. Frances had to keep herself from jumping up and down in excitement. He asked her if she wanted to go with him to see a movie when she got off and she tried not to appear too eager when accepting.

“You look good Franie,” said Anthony. If it were possible he looked even better now then he did in high school.

“Thanks. You look