Chapter Twelve: The Class Reunion

Dominica receives an invitation to her ten year high school class reunion.

In May of 1998, upon receiving the notice in the mail, or invitation, rather, for the ten year high school class reunion, I had mixed feelings about going, because of my job working as a cashier at the buffet restaurant. I also worked as a hostess from time to time, and trained other employees on the cash register and on the duties of a chashier. It was a streesful job, and I was miserable with it. But I stayed there, because it was a job that paid my bills, and enabled me to buy special things for myself and for others, my loved ones, that is. In the reunion packet was a questionnaire asking for my marital status, the name of my spouse, if I was married, the names of my children, if I had any, and how old they were. There was a question pertaining to my accomplishments or proudest moment since graduation from high school. I wrote down my awards I received for my poetry. As for my hangout, I put bookstores. I had no embarrassing moment after graduation from high school. Then, I came to the question about my occupation. I put down freelance writer. I figured everyone else would bullshit on their questionnaires for the class directory anyway, so why should I tell the truth? Class reunions are about making the right impression on one's peers.

I arrived at the reunion with one of my childhood friends. He name was Robert Alexander. I noticed a memorial shrine on a table for Lara Langston. From there I focused on what was happening in the front of me. The girl who was my class president out directories, and name buttons with our class pictures on them. Robert Alexander got a button that said "Guest". He was more tickled than I was to receive one. We walked over to the shrine for Lara Langston to pay our respects. From there, Robert Alexander and I selected a table. Then, he went up to the bar to get something for us to drink, while I chilled out to Wang Chung's Everybody Have Fun Tonight, a song that blasted from the huge sound system. We had D. J., because we didn't have enough money in our class funds to cover the cost of a band. I flipped through the class directory, to discover that only my name, address and phone number were listed. I was kind of disappointed, because many of the other students had most everything on the questionnaire filled out. Of course, my class president got my address and phone number from Avery, when she ran into him at a local gym, in Kalamazoo. I guess she didn't realize that when she sent me the questionnaire, Julia Miles, the class treasure, had already put the book together with her finance. Therefore, my responses didn't get to her in time to be entered.

Robert Alexander brought out drinks to our table, and glanced over at my directory with interest. "Can I look at your book, Dominica?"

"Sure. You know, this reunion is more exciting that I anticipated. There's good music, and wonderful people. I know it's a sure sign that this reunion is going to be great. It's already gotten off to a most excellent start." I said to him enthusiastically. I saw some girls that I went to school with. Well, graduated with. "Robert, let's go say "hi" to some people. I'd like to introduce you to them." We talked to Janice and April, two of the class officers, for a while, and then went back to our table so we wouldn't lose our seats.

Soon, everyone started packing in, and food was brought out. They were appetizers, or so I thought. We were told it was a buffet. I am not one to be catty, but that was the shittiest buffet I had ever seen. There were these tiny chicken wings with nothing but skin and bones. Although, the pieces of pasta were good. It was the best thing there. I paid twenty-five dollars a piece for Robert's and my tickets. I thought, for that much money, there would have been a descent meal. But, unfortunately, we went hungry. I lost my appetite with those damn chicken wings. Then there were those little cherry tomatoes, apple slices and pickles, and that was the meal. "Tell me something, Robert. What the hell kind of a meal is this? I know that the couple who owns and operates this place has the money. The guy who brought out another tray of appetizers owns this establishment with, his wife, Gia.
Gia's parents own two restaurants and then they bought this place for Gia and her husband. With all that money they have, can't they provide the members of the class and their guests with descent meals?" I whispered to him so no one else around us would hear. "This meal is a rip off."

"Maybe. But it's better than nothing." he assured me, while trying to make the best of the situation.

"Well, I tell you one thing, Robert, it's a good thing I ate a cheeseburger before we came here. This skimpy food is certainly not going to fill me up or anyone else for that matter." I groaned. After pushing my plate away from me, I flipped through my class directory once more to see the remarks my classmates put down about themselves.

I was so involved with my reading that I jumped when I heard my friend Chelsea, who stood behind me, offering me a warm greeting. "Dominica, honey, hi." We then embraced one another as she said excitedly, "My goodness, I haven't seen nor heard from you in ages. So, tell me, what you have been up to since graduation from high school?"

"Not much, really. Just working. And on my free time, I've been writing some poetry, but nothing major has happened yet, in terms of publications. But I've just been taking things one day at a time. How about yourself, Chelsea?" I shouted so she could hear me above the loud music that blasted from the speakers.

"Well, since graduation from high school, I've written three novels. However, I haven't got them published yet. My daughter is involved with the local theater. She's seven, but she's had some minor roles in some children's plays. My son is five. He starts school this fall. He's very bright for his age. Elijah could say his a, b, c's at age three. He's really quite advanced for his age. He'll be in the honors reading group." Chelsea informed me.

I then introduced Chelsea to Robert, and told her that he and I grew up together, attending the same church.

Robert and Chelsea of shook hands with each other. Chelsea then asked Robert and me to join her and some other folks out on the dance floor.

"I'm not really much of a dancer for fast songs, but I'll probably join Dominica for a slow song." Robert assured her.

With that said and done, I followed Chelsea out onto the dance floor. The lights were dim, and all I could see were different lights flashing on and off, and glimpses of my classmates when the lights shone down on them. Everyone was dancing different from the kind of dancing I was used to. There was a lot of bumping and grinding between many of my classmates and their spouses. That was a bit uncomfortable for me to observe, and I felt out of place with the kind of dancing I was doing. So I just went back to my seat, and sat down, while taking a sip of my cola. Shortly after that, Gia and her husband got everyone up to dance the Macarena. Robert and I elected not to dance until there was some music for slow dancing. Robert and I danced one slow dance, and then bid everyone goodbye.

Author's Note

What do you think of the dialogue?