The Reunion

At a high school reunion, Jackie realizes that no one changes. Not even herself.

Jackie always heard there was only a couple of ways a person can view high school reunions.  It was either an establishment to remind you of all the reasons you hated high school in the first place or it was a perfect time to prove time is the great equalizer of society.

As she stood leaning against a column wrapped in warm Christmas lights, Jackie decided on a third option: high school reunions continued to remind the world that no one changes. It was a dark thought, she knew, but the room-temperature Yeungling in her hand and the clear division between the “cool” and the “not cool” was enough to blacken anyone’s mood.

It would have stung less if she’d not been excited about attending this event. There was something about being successful as an adult that seemed to confirm in her that being cool in high school meant absolutely nothing in the rest of a person’s life.

But now, she was embarrassed that she’d put so much faith in the event, going so far as to buy a cute dress the day before even though she’d brought a perfectly acceptable one with her.

The motion of taking a swig of beer was as robotic as the reunion had turned out to be. What are you doing these days? Married? Kids? Always the same questions. That part didn’t surprise Jackie. She’d planned her answers well on the six hour trip it took to drive back to her home town. Oh, me? I work as an editor at Leopard Books. She would say it nonchalantly because she knew the information was impressive enough. Her hometown was adorable, but it wasn’t really a proving ground for wildly successful individuals. She could afford to be humble.

What surprised her was the time machine effect the reunion seemed to have on everyone. The group of high school kids who’d found themselves admired by their peers still seemed to garner interest and respect. The kids who’d always stood on the fringes actually stood on the fringes of the room. It was disturbing. Even the bar stood out as a glaring metaphor: cheap beer or wine. It was the kind of metaphor that she would roll her eyes at in a would-be novelist’s fiction because it was too contrived.

There were, of course, people who’d been able to bridge the gap between the two groups, miraculously finding commonalities in most settings. They still existed, of course, but since they were vastly outnumbered in high school they remained so at this event (only two) which was becoming an increasingly depressing affair the longer it plodded on.

Jackie was one of those strange kids who didn’t really fit anywhere. Arguably, she still didn’t. She’d been in lots of different groups in high school and while she was never an admired, “cool” kid, she had a chameleon-like personality. While it didn’t really work for her teenage self, it was a skill which landed her the job in Boston and certainly allowed her the successes to keep it.

Her attempt to bring the two groups together was doomed before it began. Jackie chalked it up to ignorance and extreme fear of the unknown. The defeat had left her sullen and disappointed. It was, perhaps, the very reason why she was leaning against a column in the reception hall rather than asking people the same three rehearsed questions and replying with the same three rehearsed answers.

Before she left Boston, she’d told herself this reunion could be different than all the ones depicted on television. She’d reach out to people she didn’t hang around in high school- she might even find some of her decade-old assumptions completely unfounded. It was this kind of foolish thinking that led to a thirty-minute dissertation (rather than conversation) about the Homecoming Queen’s very lavish life as the wife of a pediatrician. It made Jackie think dark thoughts.

The reasons weren’t any of the obvious ones: that the perfectly blonde Chastity didn’t seem to have aged a day or that she wore at least $20,000 worth of jewelry. It wasn’t even her horrible taste in dogs (Pugs are the ugliest, most horrifyingly unnatural animal that evolution will gladly wipe from the planet once humans cease to exist). It was that not once had it crossed Chastity’s mind that anyone else’s life might be as interesting as hers. And maybe there wasn’t a more interesting story in the room, but it shouldn’t have stopped her from asking. Chastity was one assumption Jackie had nailed from the very beginning.

All these things Jackie thought until she realized she had created her own fringe group, party of one. The green glass bottle with the word “Yeungling” and an eagle on the side was down to the last swig, but she’d lost the taste for its predictable flavor. Pushing herself from the column she tossed the bottle in the trash, walked down the stairs, and breathed deeply the cool, autumn air. 

Author's Note

This is a short story with (hopefully) some ideas that the reader will chew on for a while. My big questions are:
1. Did you feel a primary theme was conveyed? If so, what was it to you?
2. Is Jackie a relate-able character?
3. What worked in this story?
4. What didn't work?

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I think you did a very good job with this. I didn't relate to Jackie all that well, but that's probably because I'm old and have been to many HS reunions. As a teen, I stood at the lower rungs of the social ladder, but when I see the once cool and "in" kids now, they're just old geezers like me. Your writing is very good, and I saw no errors or things I'd change.

[icomeanon_13]

Thanks! Jackie is an interesting character (in my head) because she represents the inner hypocrite in all of us: a proud person playing at humility judging the unabashed nepotism in Chastity. Hopeful readers can relate to that idea moreso than Jackie, herself.

Thanks again for your review- I'm hoping to have some more writing up soon.

[Stonz P.]

Well, I read below that your sentences are long but I find them to be of apt length. It is important for the dialogue to be long as it revolves around a solitary person's chain of thought. In fact, reading them made me realise how exact the irony is when a reader asks the writer to cut the sentences (regarding expression of thought) to be short. Does anyone think in short sentences? I'd like to meet that person.

Answers to your queries-

The theme of unpredictable life, memory of old things/people remaining constant irrespective of their change spoke out to me through the inner dialogue.

Jackie is a relateable character as she is what we have been at some stage of schooling. Reunions are the same everywhere I guess; and certainly different from what is shown to masses overseas in films and shows.

The analogy of 'prejudice in one's mind when they are going to meet people they knew a long time ago and something totally unexpected takes place' is portrayed in the situation; that stood out for me.

What did not work was the para describing Chastity. I mean it is okay but I'd have liked her to freak out after observing one or two people more. OR even the omission of the para leaves quite an open ending, like leaving it to the reader's imagination is appealing (to me).

[Justin]

that was really good :) it is a great story :) it is awesome how it is from her point of view :)

[Sindu]

This is an interesting attempt on the oppressable manner of a possible change in a person. A good read indeed. Makes one feel Jackie's frustration and tiny bit of that crushed hope. However, that realisation for Jackie in itself is a change, don't you think?
The story runs in a very passionate tone, very much so as if the author channels through the character. Try chopping up the sentences, create transitions. Make music! Also, I think that you can reduce the number of paras so that it will seem more of a story.
The character is relatable though. I believe the societal pressures play a big role in the cliques and retaining them so. Some break away whereas many do not face the fears or try a change. But change occurs through every action.

[icomeanon_13]

Thanks for your review, Sindu. You are not the first person to comment on my long sentences, so I will definitely revise and shorten, where possible.

[Sindu]

Welcome :)

[Pushkar Prabhat]

they say, Change is the only constant, but this story tries to convey the message that, no one really changes.
It is written beautifully and it seems that Jackie is just a tool for the expression of your own emotions. You seem very much connected to the protagonist on a personal level, so much so that it seems, Jackie is narrating a story about herself.
This helps the reader to relate to the character effortlessly.
You love long sentences! At places they seem odd. Maybe they need some rephrasing or punctuations, i am not sure and that exactly is the problem with them.
I am not an expert on grammar and stuff. This is just my personal opinion.

One major thing that i would like to point out, is that: She realizes that no one changes but that realization (must have) changed her.

i enjoyed the read! and this is the longest review i have ever written.( first for me!!)
:)

[icomeanon_13]

I do love long sentences. They may be my greatest vice. I will read the story again and shorten sentences that seem too long. I appreciate that candid feedback! Thanks for reviewing. I truly love receiving good advice rather than glossy praise. I want to hone my talent and good advice is invaluable! Thank you again.

[Pushkar Prabhat]

you are welcome.......it was a pleasure!! :) :)

[A. Amos]

You're good writer my friend...don't worry too much, just keep writing!

All the best.

[Darl Nightingale]

As I read this, a few things stuck out to me. You wrote it very much in the voice of Jackie. It felt truly emotional. The voice was there in every aspect, and it was apparent that the speaker was very similar to Jackie. It almost felt as if the speaker was another attendee at the reunion; another adult with the same nihilistic, depressing view about the event who envies Jackie for being able to escape into the Autumn air. The fact that the speaker knew the other attendees as well as Jackie furthers this perspective. Jackie is relatable in the sense that everyone has been deeply disappointed when their hopes are too high. I believe this can also be seen as a theme. It's almost as if Jackie may have had more fun if she would have not been so worked up about it. "Don't get overzealous and make something more than it's expected to be." Things that worked were the perspective and the cynicism. Pointing out the cliches that she has seen in countless fiction novels in real life drives a point home that could have been missed entirely. The only thing that I felt was missing was a bit more of who else was there. Other than that, it is a brilliant piece.

[icomeanon_13]

Thanks for the review! While I don't disagree that more people should have been brought to life through Jackie's viewpoint, I also kind of like what is being said by pulling out just one person (Chastity). In some respects, Jackie is just a savvierChastity, and I think she begins to realize it as she goes on a mental rant. While Jackie doesn't talk all about herself, she is just as proud. Jackie just hides it better. I think this could definitely be further expanded and I will definitely give it some thought.