"School Reunion" drabbles by Neville Hunt

What a difference a day makes

School Reunion #5

The plan was to visit a great mate of ours who lived in a village in the sticks on the way home. His wife had organised a surprise birthday party for him. We would call in for a cuppa.

Arrived outside his house which was secured like Fort Knox. No sign of life. Phoned - no reply. He's avoiding us maybe?

Perhaps we're too early Off for an ice cream, that wasted 45 minutes. Back outside the house. Still no sign of them and no phone reply .

He'd scarpered. This was the pattern for that day - the wrong day!

Must fly!

School Reunion #4

The Lord Mayor's Procession through the streets at 4pm meant we had to vacate the school playground carpark sharpish or get stuck there for hours. Unfortunate timing, but time for memory lane.

We cruised the suburbs checking out where we'd lived, in adjacent roads. Then it was essential to name every girl we'd gone out with, identifying where they'd lived too. We'd been best mates since we were 7 but Pete named a couple of girls I didn't know about - secretive devil!

Then we drove down the lane where we'd spent hours on end swatting flies. Great fun!

Time flies!

The city that bore a grudge

School Reunion #3

I'd not been back to my home city for 10-15 years. Still the same beautiful buildings, still the same castle, still the same cathedrals. But some things had changed... to catch me out! Reaching St Stephens, I drove down to look at the castle once again. Unbeknownst to me, it was buses only now. Discovering this too late to turn back, I ploughed on, and on with just buses for company, completely ignoring the castle as we passed.

Apparently St Stephen is the patron saint of headaches! How apt; I got one!

Rubbish welcome home! Retribution for sustained absence!

Truants

School Reunion #2

Had a spiffing time at the school reunion lunch. A grand affair, catering for over 200 old boys (and girls - my, how times have changed!) sitting on tables according to the year we left. Pete and I sat together, struggling to recognise everyone on our table. We chatted to a couple on Pete's left and had a laugh, without knowing who they were. Then we went, table by table, to get our buffet lunch. Arriving back, the couple had scarpered, leaving not a trace anywhere.

Was it the food or me and Pete that drove them away? We'll never know.

And you are? Really? You haven't changed (much)!

School Reunion #1

Collecting my old mate, we sped the hundred miles to the school reunion. Having both been there from age 7 to 17, it was our first such event.

It was good chatting to Pete; I hadn't seen him for 10 years. Just like yesterday.

There, nestling next to the finest cathedral in Britain, was the old school. He'd been a cathedral chorister; I'd been a swot. Memories, all good, rushing back. Lunch was lively; chatting, chortling.

On the drive back realised we must have got the wrong year. Names were familiar, but couldn't be our year. They looked so old!