Wine & Parrots
Jan, Sue and Mary
haven't seen each other since leaving school. They rediscover each other via
Friends Reunited and arrange to meet for lunch.
Jan
arrives first, wearing a beige Versace dress. She orders a bottle of Pinot
Grigio.
Sue
arrives shortly afterward, wearing a grey Chanel number. After the initial hugs
and kisses she joins Jan in a glass of wine.
Then
Mary walks in, wearing a faded old tee-shirt, blue jeans and boots. She too
shares the wine.
Jan
explains that after leaving school and attending Oxford University she met and
married Timothy, with whom she has a beautiful daughter. Timothy is a partner
in one of London's leading law firms. They live in a 4000 sq ft apartment
on Park Lane and Susanna, the daughter, attends drama school. They have a
second home in Portugal .
Sue
relates that she graduated from Cambridge University, studied to become a
doctor and became a surgeon. Her husband, Clive, is a leading financial
investment banker in the City. They live in the Surrey stockbroker belt and
have a second home in Italy .
Mary
explains that after she left school at 17, she ran off with her boyfriend,
Mark. They run a tropical bird park in Essex and grow their own vegetables.
Mark can stand five parrots, side by side, on his erect penis.
Halfway
down the third bottle of wine and several hours later, Jan blurts out that her
husband is really a cashier at Tesco, they live in a small apartment in Bromley
and have a caravan parked on the front drive.
Sue,
chastened and encouraged by her old friend's honesty, explains that she and
Clive are both nursing care assistants in an old people's home. They live in
Peckham and take camping holidays in Kent .
Mary admits that the fifth
parrot has to stand on one leg.
