Wedding Night

ned the CVs of about thirt

rah should be fired. That’s

lf-employment law. I’ve shared all the advice I thin

as totally ignorant of,

movie; 2) which actress

ctually a total bitch to he

jeté (I faile

r to any subject at all,

out the cost of shellac and

nt to open your own salon.

ut my attention keeps be

Her eyes are red-rimmed a

er phone and blowing her

er e

ring the Q and A when I

ing about vacation benefi

. I’d been saving up vac

eding it for a honeymoon.

in St.

ere. Move on. Move on,

the girl wi

focus on brows?” she’s

ng properly. How did we

in points for the benefit

the second row gives a mas

ym

g to attract her attentio

Her friend puts a protect

xcus

” I say. “A

the credit?” chimes in a

already faile

the first friend viciously,

gs like “It so is” and “T

ky

wo years.” The pale gir

coursework for him. And no

hought he wanted to be w

I stare at her, tears sta

I kn

“In fact, I’ll give you a special mention for t

ves me a watery smil

ten to me, OK? You h

rge to speak off-topic. T

about tax breaks, but ab

both in. I know it’s not

o know. My heart is beatin

ke Helen Mirren o

you,” I begin. “Woman t

g to human being.” My ey

ur life.” I feel so galvaniz

sage. “You’re strong.”

have your own life, and

il she whi

” I raise my voice to ta

nswer isn’t to eat chocola

ve had a breakup, do you

ction. I’ve found myself an

ved house. Because I’m i

my palm. “Not some guy

y

ak into applause, and

’s what I said! He’

for emphasis. “No more t

called. No more stuffing

resh horizons. If I

at me as though I

gulps at last. “You’re am

, even when I

such wonder, I can’t he

o behave as though I’m su

-three, not

say confidently. “You kn

dea what I would do in life

kid, floundering around.”

on. Do I have time to giv

on. “I was lost. Exactly li

my gap

ents, at team-building seminars, at preparation sess

it, and it always

I repeat, “and my whole l

transformed me.” I take a

now my theory of life? We

a path. I had my biggest

o have your own big m

agog, and so are all th

tching off

house on Ikonos,” I explai

ar travelers, and I was t

al pl

ory, it brings back the s

n dazzling my eyelids.

ung over peeling wooden s

. Fresh sardines grilled

g ever

was a fire.” I force myse

ouse was packed with peop

nto the upstairs veranda,

; there weren’t even a

at night, it’s the same

he thunderous sound and th

ok

tterly silent

was up in the tree house

ld jump off the side of th

one had realized. Everyo

g people. I had to yell to

e a mad thing, but final

ey followed my instruction

by one, and they were all

I could be a leader. I c

is absolu

exhales at last.

shrug.

ve lives?” She

to lighten the atmosphe

omething about myself.” I clasp my hands to my che

d course, changed all my id

. That was my big definin

nd you’ll all have your d

ll

and feel a little overcom

the bit I never put in: ho

ze, desperate to be heard,

ile around at the silent

th me all these years. I

rap and stupid, I

om. Then the blond girl i

rs adviser we’ve ever

a round of applause. A c

’m not,” I

sts. “You’re ace. Can we

me.” I smile politely. “

d luck with y

She approaches the platf

hes at me. “I’m Jo

e at my watch. “I couldn’t

y

ly,” says Jo kindly. “But

you get enough s

Yes, I did, thanks. P

erent eye cream, then. Wh

ring closely at my face n

’t been …

to sound too defensi

lastic chair and is gently

h, like a builder assess

ering

s in a terrible state.” Sh

ally dismayed faces a

hat’s p

es are a

at is.” I aim for an easy

gy to something!” says

at’ll be it. An allergy What mak

and pull the zip op

eaches for it before I c

seeing the massive Gala

sumed while waiting for S

ng it back. But her hand is

thing gets jostled and je

tossed out of the bag, to

wine (further moment of we

Richard (even further

r, gathering the shreds.

“Is that a photo?

volunteers another girl

an old Valentine?” says h

ttery card. “But it looks

a coffee cup in Costa bef

moment of

t me out of a fragment of

I can detect a few meanin

any words. I can’t find a

and surveys my bloodshot e

stuffing all the th

ly, “the most important

show … whoever.” She win

t of time. Are