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

ld focus on brows?" she'

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

ought he wanted to be wit

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 any

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

tery card. "But it looks l

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