The School Reunion

by Paula Mortenson

 

I suppose like everyone I have a fascination with my school days and it was no surprise when, on a search of the Web, I discovered that my old school had organised a class reunion. Since my husband, John, and I had only met less than a year ago this was a part of our lives that was entirely separate. I am a bit of a chatterbox, though, and I know I had talked incessantly about the people I had known. In my search of the Website I was surprised to find that Sue Carter (nee Smith) had already registered. That was a particular shock as that was me and I had never been into the site before.

I never mentioned about the reunion to John, it somehow seemed to be part of another world which was pre us, if you see what I mean. Now we lived in the far North of England, where we both had responsible (and well paid jobs) and my old school was on the South Coast, near where my parents still lived.

I visited the School Website on a frequent basis and read with interest my other self, describing her life after school. It was just like my life but interestingly it gave no address and the only contact offered was by Email. Even the sadness that John and I shared about being unable to have children came over in her page. It was as if I had written it and then forgotten about it. There was a photo, too. It was my clothes, my style but not quite me. It was all very creepy, as though someone else was taking over my life.

Still, though I was shocked beyond belief, I never mentioned this to John. We continued our lives, me working in the town where we lived and John travelling the country. I decided on a course of action as I was determined to meet and challenge this impostor, as I was certain she was. Since my own Email address might have given me away I opened a new one in the name of Gail, a school friend who I knew was now living in Australia and very unlikely to return. I posted Gail's details on the website and received greetings from old acquaintances but after a few days my plan rolled into action when the other Sue contacted me.

Though I was chatting with a fraud within a very short time we became bosom friends. She was living me in real time as she recounted the things that I had done in the recent past and even reflected my moods and feelings. It was like talking to myself. She even confided, as girl friends do, personal matters concerning John and my bedroom activities, or rather lack of them just recently.

The day of the Reunion drew close and I decided to go to face my doppelganger. Since my parents were not far from the school I was merely visiting them, so no need to mention it to John. I wanted to be there early, to watch everyone as they arrived but unfortunately, snagged stockings and a broken heel meant that I was one of the last to arrive.

In a room full of vaguely familiar faces, she stood out. She was me, the clothes, the hair, make up, everything. But as I came closer, despite the familiar look there were features that were not quite right. Her nose, she was taller than me and her waist was not as slim as mine. She turned as I stood before her and which of us was the more astonished is impossible to say. "I thought you were at a sales conference." "You were visiting your parents, you never said anything about coming here." "Neither did you!! And when did all this start? "

Sue and Gail did not stay long at the Reunion, we were far more interested in each other. After a quick fire negotiation, it was agreed that I was Sue and "she" was Gail, which saved a lot of problems, particularly when Gail moved in with me, at home. Certainly neither of us has any need to bemoan that our partner has lost interest in us.

I noticed last week that my special Email address has been getting some very insistent messages from someone who was very keen on Gail at school and his best mate was someone who I fancied before I met John. But John is history now. I wonder whether Gail fancies another reunion?

 

Ó Paula Mortenson

2002

  

  

  

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