The Secret

The bar is unusually empty considering it is early Friday evening. The bar is usually bustling with people, men after work having a beer with their mates, young Uni students after a day of study and couples looking for an enjoyable pub meal. Not today. There is a cricket game Australia versus England at the oval just on the outskirts of town, where the pub is situated and the game had not ended yet. The bar has memorabilia on the wall from both sports, cricket and football. The bar was in the center,the table and chairs were around the bar. Natural daylight was still coming through the windows which were partially stained glass.

The bar door opens and a woman walks in. She enters by herself. The woman has short brown hair,is tall and neatly dressed in a business suit that is dark blue, a white shirt and high stiletto heels. The woman sits down at the bar and orders a glass of white wine. The barman passes the glass of wine to her and manages to find out what her name is. Lorraine her called her. The bar manager walks to the other end of the bar and continues to wipe his wine glasses until they are crystal clear. The bar manager is a young man, with dark hair and blue eyes and dressed in jeans and t/shirt. Lorraine sits at the bar for about five minutes not using her mobile phone or sending text messages to anyone that may be important to her. The barman looks across at her, and she looks deep in thought, as if contemplating her future.

Lorraine assumes she is by herself, as she can clearly see the bar is quite empty. Lorraine looks across the room for a split second and notices another woman sitting there at a table. She also is by herself. She has long blond hair, wearing jeans and a pink blouse and sandals. She is just finishing of her glass of red wine. The woman gets up from her table and starts walking towards the bar and asks the barman for another glass of red wine. The barman smiles at her and calls her Mandy while passing the glass of wine to her. Mandy paid the barman and then glanced at the other woman sitting at the bar. Mandy recognizes Lorraine and instantly strikes up a conversation. They stop talking as they both have a sip of their wine. Lorraine decides to join Mandy at her table.

They both could not believe after all these years they have bumped into each other, in the same place at the same time. Lorraine and Mandy were sitting at their table catching up on all the gossip, having a laugh at past life antics they both shared together. They had an immediate connection with each other and their friendship was renewed. After a time Lorraine reveals to Mandy what kind of career path she has followed. A marketing executive with an up market company and Lorraine explains how her job keeps her really busy. Mandy also reveals to Lorraine that she is a hairdresser and really enjoys her chosen career. After a quiet pause they start up a conversation re-discovering their childhood days, as they were childhood friends at high school both doing the same classes.

Mandy mentioned the secret they both shared, and asked Lorraine if she had revealed their secret to anyone. As the bar was empty their voices carried and it was if they were sharing their childhood secret with the world, but only the barman was present. He did not acknowledge that he could hear what they were saying. Would he be able to keep their secret? They both looked at him and he smiled back at them, while still cleaning his glasses.

Mandy was talking to Lorraine with a smile on her face, remembering how Lorraine used to hang around school boys at their school, instead of studying. Lorraine knew Mandy stuck by her and was very thankful for Mandy being such a good friend to her during this reckless time. Mandy, you know if you had told anyone especially our teachers, I would not be where I am today.

Mandy knows Lorraine cheated in her math's test but promised not to tell.