Reunion

Short Story by Steven P. Ross

Jamie Winston sat at his kitchen table while opening his mail and smiled at the engraved invitation staring at him. Fond memories mixed with a romantic roller coaster experience reminded him of the happiest times of his youth. He texted his best friend, Patrick Rohrich.

Got an invite to our high school’s 25^th reunion. Can’t believe it’s been this long. Have you got yours?

Minutes later came Patrick’s reply. Got it yesterday. R U going?

Jamie thought for a moment and consulted his mostly blank calendar. 

I think I can fit it into my schedule. U want to go 4 a beer?

An hour later Patrick was sitting with a pint in his hand at O’Malley’s Bar, an establishment where an Irishman would feel right at home. 

Jamie took the stool next to him. “Where’s mine?” he asked. “Didja think I wouldn’t show up?”

Patrick waved to the bartender. “A pint of Guiness for my friend. Put it on his tab.” 

The bartender chuckled. “Lucky for you I have your credit card on file.”

Patrick proposed a toast. “To Jamie, who now has to resort to grifting. May he find a job quickly.”

A patron on the other side of Patrick laughed and raised his glass.

Jamie uttered a profanity under his breath as he toasted his friend. 

“What do you remember about high school?” Patrick inquired.

Jamie pondered. “Until today I haven’t given it much thought. What about you?”

Patrick took a large swig of his beer. “I remember how you wussed out of asking Whitney Reiser for a date. I think she liked you.”

Jamie sighed, “ah, Whitney. She was hot. Didn’t you date her for a while?”

“Yeah, but we weren’t compatible.”

Jamie laughed. “You mean she dumped you.”

Patrick laughed and took a gulp of beer. “Maybe. I did manage to seduce Loretta Brown and Carol Hughes during my high school days. I heard Loretta died and I didn’t see Carol on the invite list.”

“Did your soon-to-be ex-wife know about your old teenage trysts?”

Patrick took a long draw on his beer. “Why didja have to bring her up? I was starting to enjoy myself.”

Jamie sighed. “Sometimes I wish Emily and I hadn’t divorced. After being around a person for almost twenty years the adjustment isn’t easy.”

Patrick reached out and ruffled Jamie’s hair. “Hmm…a little gray, huh? I never noticed how old you’re getting.”

Jamie waved him away. “That’s not something you’ll have to worry about.”

Patrick rubbed his hand over the smooth surface of his head. “I bet I can cause our old female schoolmates to swoon.”

Jamie rolled his eyes while the guy next to Patrick slapped him on the back. “A convincing liar you ain’t,” he said, laughing so hard he had to restrain himself from falling off his stool.

The banter kept up for another thirty minutes and three beers before Jamie rolled off his seat. “I think I should be going. Got some things to do.”

“Just like old times, my friend. You couldn’t hold your beers back then. Some things never change.” 

Jamie flashed a third finger at his friend, who was laughing and holding up his stein. “See you at the reunion.”

***************

Jamie entered the hotel ballroom dressed in his finest slacks, casual shoes, and a golf shirt with an alligator stitched on the front. He stopped at the reception table and picked out a label. While taking a moment to slap it on his shirt, he casually glanced at the list of reunion attendees, hoping that Whitney’s name was there. It was. Only the name was now Whitney Plumb, with “Reiser” in parentheses. He looked around the room and smiled.

Patrick waved him over to the bar. He had a drink in each hand and was laughing with one of their schoolmates who looked as fit as he must have been in high school. Jamie couldn’t remember his name. He joined the happy duo.

“Randy, you remember Jamie Winston from physical ed? He used to help you with algebra.”

Jamie held out his hand. “Good to see you after all these years. What are you up to?”

“I run a software programming company. And you?”

Jamie squirmed. “Right now I’m out of work. COVID and AI caused my old firm to cut costs.”

Randy sighed. “Nothing wrong with being unemployed these days. I had my turn maybe ten years ago. Six months down the road you’ll wonder why this didn’t happen earlier.”

Patrick chimed in. “Jamie is a professional grifter. Good comedian, though.”

Randy glanced around the room. “I’d better see what some of our other alums are up to.” He shook Jamie’s hand. “Good to have met you. Maybe we’ll talk later.”

Patrick watched as Randy moved to another group. “Yeah, Jamie, you’ll find something. But hey, I’ve got to use the men’s room. Back in a flash.”

Jamie nodded and then looked in the middle of the room. His hands became moist. Hesitantly, he strolled over and positioned himself in front of her.

“Whitney? Whitney Reiser? So good to see you,” he said, instantly feeling like a chump.

She looked as if she didn’t recognize him for a microsecond, then smiled and shook his hand. “It’s Plumb. Yes, I remember. You were the one always getting into trouble in class. Have you changed?”

He smiled despite himself. “I’d like to think so. I haven’t been stopped by police or spent any time in jail.”

She had a peculiar laugh, one that he found adorable in high school, but tonight made him cringe.

“So, what are you doing with your life?” Jamie asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.

“My husband is CEO of Software Dynamics. You may have heard of it. I’m able to contribute time and money to several charities, including being on the board of Habitat for Humanity. I’ve sponsored golf tournaments, that is, if the weather ever clears up.” She pruned her hair. “As you know, we’re all getting older.”

Jamie felt his eyelids growing heavy. “Ah, Whitney, I see you’ve done well for yourself. It’s been nice seeing you again.” Looks like she’s had some work done.

She raised her eyebrows, abruptly turned her head, and marched off.

Toward the end of the event, Patrick tugged on Jamie’s arm. “Hey, struck out again with Whitney? Let’s hit the bar over at the Hilton across the street.”

Seated at the bar, after a few drinks Jamie was feeling buzzed. “I can only do one more or I won’t be able to drive.”

“Sounds great. I’ll call an Uber when we’re ready,” Patrick said. “My kidneys are acting up again. See ya.”

Jamie ordered Scotch and water. A young, attractive brunette wearing a revealing dress, tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the stool. “Is this seat being taken?”

Jamie glanced around before shrugging. “It is now.”

She ordered a beer. “It’s been a wasted evening. My party deserted me, and I have to fend for myself.” She gazed at him. “Why do you look so sad?”

He stirred his drink. “I was at my twenty-fifth high school reunion and was hoping to see a girl I had a crush on in high school. The reality didn’t jive with my expectations.”

She brushed against his arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Is sitting here making it better?”

He chuckled. “Well, it hasn’t made it worse. In fact, your being here has helped.”

She smiled. “Thank you for that. What do you do for a living?”

Here it comes. “Right now, I’ve got my resume out there. I’m an electrical engineer, so you’d think I’d have no problems but, …it’s been a rough year.”

“Are you a good listener?” she asked.

Jamie smiled. “About as good as the next guy.”

“Good. I’m kinda bummed with my life. I always wanted to be a nurse, but I feel an obligation to work in my family’s business.”

They continued a friendly conversation, focusing on hobbies and fun things. Jamie felt a warmth in his stomach he hadn’t felt in a long time. He felt good explaining his engineering background and having her listen as if she were really interested.

Patrick flew by, gave the thumbs up & shuffled over to two women laughing at the other side of the bar.

There was a momentary silence. Jamie had consumed two additional drinks and was feeling quite buzzed. “You know, I really should be going before they’ll have to carry me out of here.” He grabbed a dry napkin and withdrew a pen. “Listen. I’d love to see you again. I don’t even know your name. Could you write it down?”

“I’ll do you one better.” She reached into her purse and presented a business card. “Call me.”

As he took it, an older woman stepped up to the table and tapped on the young girl’s shoulder. “Your father and I have been looking all over for you.”  She frowned upon seeing Jamie.

“It’s time to go.”  Whitney Reiser-Plumb took the girl by the arm and helped her off the barstool. 

Stunned, Jamie moved the card closer to his bloodshot eyes.

 Christy Plumb, Vice-President, Software Dynamics.