Wedding Night

sleep a

they mean is: I woke up

But I really didn’t sleep

going

at Fliss is totally, utter

San Francisco. By two A.M

posal speech, including li

three A.M. I’d filmed myse

yself and realized the hor

He’ll just get freaked out

ten all the Pralines & Crea

’m slumped on a plastic c

ng the l

wonders if by walking

. If I’d hung on, bitten m

relationship have

e rational. People say th

re talking rubbish. I studi

w it goes. A=B, B=C, the

he following detached

no intention of proposing

ea

riage and commitment an

a

m not destined to be with

th someo

ore I did the right thin

efore I need to find ano

oesn’t get that wide-eyed

it’s such a terrifying ide

ears with you, maybe they

as tree together … and why is that such a bad thing?

yone says we’re such a g

en your own mother was hi

ear them

ot that succin

ying to soothe my nerves.

expect in the circumstanc

ham on no sleep and all t

cruitment talk to a hundre

of caulifl

teve, in the “backstage

g hunched over his coffee,

recruitment talks together,

s the science side; I do the

dge our research-anddevelopment department is. An

an exciting one and t

e offers me a c

I’ve already crammed en

es into

ome hard-core boot cam

ves them a new outlook. I

nd drink isotonic drinks.

ng really tough

ron Wom

ry and am about to Goog

s officer appears round th

efore, so I hadn’t met De

I’ve never met anyon

out ten minutes. Keep it q

y. “Quite brief.

e students afterward,” I s

euticals?” brochures

ting about. “Well … as I

ie

her, We’ve come all the

eers officers are deligh

ay to Steve. “Me, you, cl

d the DVD to Deborah. “I’ll cu

worst bit about our prese

ad lighting and bad elect

ard as they pretend to ha

d, so we hav

up the DVD and I lean ba

wisting together. I don’t

Where am I going in life

I d

chard, by the way. It’s

I don’t know. A new direc

a nearby chair and I rea

e Your Business Strategy

is stamped acr

ion at myself. Why don’t

s gone wrong. I haven’t

ing to absorb the informati

arrows traveling one way,

the message is: reverse th

onds. I must

hese books and become an

ol. I have a sudden imag

business principles. Comin

ld would be one of ideas

evel t

ard overseas students

ld be assembled by now

per

ntion back to her. What

is her first-ever recruitm

’s so t

ying to avoid the sight of

rs through the double door

ng above the hubbub. Afte

dge Steve, who’s just bitte

on! We

le stage and see our audi

le t

tudents who shamble in, hair unwashed, unshaved, wi

immaculate girls at the f

akeup. Behind them is a gro

les. I can’t speak for ast

? Ones with tread

urmur encouragingly to

enta

m to make an effort,” sh

er at Steve, who is peering

dly believ

ead to the front of the

raveney, and I’m here to t

icals. You’ll know us bes

rmacy, from our Placidus

ream. But a career with us

” Steve practically elbow

it’ll thrill you. We’re w

e want to take you on tha

. First of all, that’s not

me from? Third, he’s now

rugged, pharmaceutical-re

ldn’t. His forearms a

e in life …” He pauses f

this is the pl

n the front row, whose wh

avage. She has long blond

bling down every

ve,” I say brightly, dra

he lights dim and our first

een beh

teve as he sits down bes

by what? H

re bright yet,” I point

em

es,” Steve says airily. “

hen I see it. That fair-ha

ery promising. We shoul

up before any of the other phar

be offering her a si

formation about the sch

could try not to address

ve strides center stage, p

out to split some lumber a

in wi

few of the newest advan

ure. Maybe with your help.

he smiles b

es a picture of a c

ith onium-poly hydrogen f

r, then stops. “Before I co

.” He looks around. “Ther

iou

they study!” Deborah cut

urprise, she’s leapt up ou

t doesn’t matter wha

as a spring.

” explains Steve. “If all

r ha

om all subjects.” She cut

. So it’s irre

ky. I knew some

?” Steve is looking at

t half our audien

we have a word?” she sa

I’m afraid …” Her voice tr

l to the wrong

out the biochemists. What

decide to

I say reassuringly. “We’

it graduates in physics, b

ese student

eborah is furiousl

last. “Most are trainee m

cer

tists and

all so stunning and fit. I catch a glimpse of Stev

innocently. “Steve tho

to offer them all scienti

you,

and rounds on Deborah. “

re on a career in pharmac

makeup artist

ks like she wants to wee

ate. I’ve been set a target

ch a prestigious firm, I

t to work in pharmace

ses th

don’t know if I want to la

Not that I’d been

here?” Steve sounds lik

er seminars to get our car

a bobbin

ks up his jacket from his

t of the auditorium, I fee

anyone as incompetent

here’s still a roomful of

en if it’s not in pharmaceu

n. I’m not just turnin

from Deborah, flip off

. I don’t work in the bea

much point me advising yo

try to give some general

ons fo

irl in a leather jacket h

my CV and tell me

a. Anyone else want

. I’ve never seen such a w

in m

ine. That’s w