It was the count down to disaster. Sandra was looking at her watch. All those years ago you came to this restaurant, in your memory it was better back then. The place used to be full of people and it was a novelty, pay a fixed price and eat what you can, I do not know if they were the first to come up with that idea, they were certainly the first I knew. The food was so good and such a choice. That was then, this was now. Of course you did not know as she looked down bored and wishing she was elsewhere. You the unsuspecting fool. Of course you were not unsuspecting you had started the ball rolling a few weeks ago. After all there was nothing in it, it was just a meeting, three old friends who had not seen each other for, how many years was it ago? A life time and more. If only Sandra had looked up from her watch and said: “Whatever you are planning it is the scheme of a real fool and you should abandon the whole idea here and now. Think of what is a stake.” Sandra glanced along the table at the other guests of this party then gave her husband the look, if he had seen it, it would have cut through him and told him that she had had enough and it was time to leave but Brian was chatting with the woman he was sitting next to. Sandra was a little bit jealous. The woman what was she up to? Thought Sandra. Then two of the children started laughing, they were so loud that their mother gave them a look which said: “We are in a very nice restaurant, that is enough!” The children laughed a bit more but then they paused. Sandra coughed and stood. She tapped Brian on the shoulder and said: “Good night everyone. Nice to see you all after such along time.” If I had only taken her lead, if I had only just walked away. Life is full of ‘if onlys’.

© Cher Bonfis 2022