Ch 05. Jean and Suzie:
Jean knew she was overweight. She also knew it was not really her fault, as she had been a chubby baby, doted on by her prosperous and well-fed parents, so her appreciation of food was built into her genes. It was just as well she had signed a prenup before marrying, as her cheating husband had gone off with that skinny secretary of his, so she had been able to keep both her share of the business and her inheritance from her husband's clutches. But this gave her a bit of a complex.
This current trend in the Community of being taken out to dinner sounded like a good idea because some of the higher class restaurants frowned on people dining on their own, especially elderly women, so having a man escort her could get her into a classy restaurant with a really good menu. Jean contacted Dame Judy, who explained the conditions of the project and the service club dates. She was not terribly keen on paying for his meal too, and then she would be expected to fork out for this charity, but the thought of good food overrode her deep pockets, and she put her name down with Dame Judy for a night out with an escort.
She had a kaftan she hadn't worn very often, which would do. No point in wasting money on a new outfit at this time of year as there were no sales at present. She should probably get her hair done; although probably just a normal cut and shampoo it herself, to save money that would be OK. After all, it was only a local restaurant and a local man who was taking her, and although she was financially quite well off, she was very tight with her spending.
When Dave arrived to pick her up, she greeted him at the door with a shake of her hand. "Hello, I'm Jean. You must be Dave. Where is your car?"
"Right at your gate," replied Dave. "Can I take your arm?"
"No, thanks. I'm not senile. Let's get going. I'm hungry."
When they got to the restaurant, Dave held the door open for her, and without acknowledging it, Jean stormed up to the reception desk. "Table for two. I will be paying for it so it will be in my name; Richardson. And we want a good table next to a wall, so we don't have people pushing past us all the time."
"Certainly Madam," said the startled hostess, grabbing two menus.
"Miss" came the curt reply. "I am Miss Richardson."
Once they were seated, the hostess began to offer the "soup of the day," but Jean interrupted rudely. "We can read the menu. Thank you, and we are not silly. We can choose what we want."
The hostess kept her cool and quietly offered the wine list. Jean glanced at it and said, "No, thank you. Not at that price. Water will do. Now leave us alone to make our choices."
Although Dave tried several times to start a conversation, Jean was obviously only interested in the food, and replied in monosyllables The food was good and the service exemplary in Dave's opinion, but when Jean finally put her serviette on the table, Dave asked if she had enjoyed her meal, and she was noncommittal. "Yes, it was quite good. You can take me home now."
The ride home was taken in complete silence, and when Dave escorted her to the door, she quickly found her keys, opened the door, shook his hand briefly and said "Thank you for the evening. It was very pleasant," and with that, she walked inside and closed the door. Dave shrugged and drove home.
During the following week, Dave made a point of calling on Dame Judy and describing the evening fully to her. He felt that although he had made every effort to be a good escort, he had not kept up the standards the Club desired to give service for money.
They discussed the evening together, and Dave thoughtfully said: "I don't think she likes men."
They looked at each other in silence, and light bulbs appeared above both heads.
"Leave it with me," said Judy. "We will find her a more appropriate escort. Thank you for being so considerate and doing your best. Don't blame yourself; you cannot win them all."
At the next committee meeting, Judy tabled the bones of the situation and said "We don't want to appear to coerce people into making donations, but the pleasure that is being felt among the residents is very obvious. Some are missing out, and if we can bring each of them the same amount of pleasure, we will have really been of service as well as completing our overall project. "
The committee got their heads together, and someone recommended Susie being very willing to help. She was bi and great company. If anyone could crack Jean, Suzie could. Judy offered to organize a coffee morning to include Jean and Suzie next Wednesday to introduce Suzie to Jean.
The following Wednesday at the coffee morning, Susie sat close to Jean and smiled into her eyes. "What is your bucket list, Jean?" She asked quietly.
"Oh, I don't I have one" was the negative reply. "I just take each day as it comes and I am still alive, so I just get on with it."
"Well now, think of all the things that there are in the world to do. Personally, bungee jumping and hang gliding are well out for me, but a weekend of spa and spoiling, a conducted bus or train trip to somewhere you have never been, or a shopping weekend with a show in the evening. You will be surprised how it will lift your spirits, brighten your day, and make memories for you."
Jean smiled and said, "Memories! Oh, course Cats. I love the music of Cats." And she sang the first lines of Memories. "I think it is on in Auckland next month, and I would love to go." Her whole face lit up, and she appeared to drop ten years.
"Right," said Susie. "I will organize that. We can go up in my car, stay two nights, and come home the following day after the show. We're not in a hurry. We'll set out early, book into a hotel and hit a shopping mall for a couple of hours, go to a spa and have dinner at a top restaurant. Then the next day we will drive around some sights and go to 'Cats' that evening. Let's wear something casual during the day, go very elegant at night, dress up, have dinner before the show, and just have fun."
