Chapter Six #2
‘Hello, Penmenna parents and staff. I think we’re all here now, so let’s begin.
Please do take a seat and feel free to help yourself to refreshments afterwards.
’ She said the last bit rather forcefully, and Sylvie couldn’t help but giggle, but as the two Marion lookalikes glared at her she turned it into a little cough.
It was rather like being back at ballet classes with an absolutely terrifying woman at the front barking commands and rapping a cane on the floor to back them up.
It would appear that Parent Teacher Associations were a whole new world that the uninitiated had no clue about.
Sylvie, up until this point, was very definitely uninitiated.
‘Now, I’d like to welcome you to Penmenna School.
’ She gave a little nod as she said this and a rather sullen-looking acolyte with dark hair behind her pressed a key on the laptop to reveal a picture of the front of the school.
She saw Rosy, who was sitting at the front alongside Marion, look around at the sulky brunette and try to give her a cheery smile.
‘Penmenna is a school to be proud of, and I’m sure you’re aware it has received more than its fair share of media attention recently, as we guide the school through the choppy waters of today’s society, never failing to deliver a top-notch education and a raft…
’ Marion stopped as a GIF of a raft clicked onto the screen and the ladies behind her obediently tinkled. Alex’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Do you think they’re robots?’ he whispered.
‘I’m happy to answer all questions at the end.
’ Marion beamed directly at Alex whilst Sylvie felt a strong need to cast her eyes down and fidget with her skirt.
‘As I was saying, a raft of outstanding and exceptional extracurricular activities. The Penmenna Hall Restoration Project, which I’m sure every one of you…
’ again she paused as the PTA nodded vigorously and the new parents in the audience, who realized their obedience was expected, joined in, ‘…has watched on the television recently. None of this would be possible without our leading lady, Miss Winter…’ Marion paused again as her minions led a round of applause and Rosy, managing to look both mortified and resigned, smiled back at the audience, ‘…and her amazing teaching team steering the school. However, this level of excellence is not unaided by our marvellous PTA…’ the ladies all beamed on cue, with the exception of the brunette at the back who was somewhat aggressively hitting the keys on the laptop at appropriate points in the talk, ‘…who do a marvellous job of fundraising…’ Marion continued to talk evangelically about how Penmenna PTA was not just outstanding in every way, but also a rare opportunity to hit a social pinnacle, a life-changing opportunity.
Sylvie was beginning to worry it was a bit cult-like. She was definitely going to approach the brunette and get the real low-down. She tuned back in to Marion’s burble.
‘And of course, the Penmenna Restoration means that our children get real-life media training, so important from a young age in today’s society.
I believe it’s only a matter of time before my own dear boys are snapped up by a Hollywood agent.
And you’ll see it invigorates the school, attracts a new calibre of parent, as this year’s intake surely demonstrates.
’ Sylvie watched as Rosy rolled her eyes heavenward, if only for a millisecond, and Marion’s gaze seemed to have lit upon Alex again.
Shit, should she know who he was? Or was that Marion woman delusional?
Sylvie had a strong sense both might be correct.
The speech came to a close, with all parents being urged to sign up and make a difference before hitting the chocolate fountain and decimating the school-shaped sponge cake.
After rapturous applause Marion made a beeline for Alex, who looked at Sylvie in alarm.
‘Oh no, an old friend you said. You’re on your own.’
‘Don’t leave me,’ he said as forcefully as one could speak out of the corner of their mouth.
Sylvie considered it but decided the entertainment factor of watching him squirm as Marion approached, rictus beam upon her face and dragging one of her cloned minions behind her, made it worth sticking around.
Plus, she was intrigued; Marion’s not-at-all-hidden mention of celebrity in the room had aroused her curiosity.
Perhaps Alex’s wife was dead famous. Although notably, still missing.
Marion clearly had no intention of including Sylvie in her intended conversation and with the determination and strategy that generals the world over would envy she managed to manoeuvre herself and her coterie into Alex’s personal space whilst cutting Sylvie entirely out.
Clone number one muttered something about keeping one’s clothes on as she closed the circle around Alex. Did someone in this hall have a penchant for stripping in public? This would make the PTA considerably more interesting. She wondered who it could be.
Sylvie grinned over Marion’s shoulder, gave Alex a thumbs-up and headed for the cheese, eyes peeled for any potential nudity.
Five strawberries covered in chocolate, at least two handfuls of popcorn and half a loaf of bread dripping in melted cheese left Sylvie feeling like the Very Hungry Caterpillar; she had signed up to join the PTA and had let Rosy Winter know that she would love to come in and help with reading.
She had also tried to pump the sulky brunette for the inside track on the PTA and whether it really was run as tightly as Stalin’s Russia.
But the woman, Beth she introduced herself as, stuck to the party line and merely said it was an honour to be part of such a committed group of parents, with very high standards of behaviour.
Sylvie half expected her to murmur, ‘Run,’ discreetly and through clenched teeth, or semaphore for help using only her eyebrows, but alas neither of these things actually happened.
What was amusing though was watching Alex from across the room.
Marion and her Marion Mark Two were only the first to pin him down; he was now surrounded by an awful lot of mothers, all jostling for attention, flicking their hair and laughing very loudly.
Every now and then he would peep a look of desperation at her, puppy-dog eyes pleading for rescue, at which point she’d giggle and eat something else.
However, as much fun as it was laughing at his plight, she did need to go and get Sam, so she turned and left the building.
‘Oi!’
She hadn’t even got out of the door as Alex broke free, rather like a Labrador shaking off water droplets, scattering simpering women to the four winds.
‘I thought we were friends.’
‘I never said that,’ she teased.
‘Friends don’t leave friends to be eaten alive by marauding hordes.’
‘That’s no way to describe the upright citizens of Penmenna, selflessly devoting themselves to community only to be slandered so heartlessly.’
Alex quirked a brow, and she couldn’t help but giggle again.
‘Hey, Ellie and I haven’t eaten yet, we were going to make some pizzas. There’s plenty if you and Sam would like to join us.’
Sylvie felt herself flush again before she responded. For goodness’ sake, this was ridiculous!
‘That sounds lovely.’ And it did, but she was split.
Firstly, she would love to have a look at where they lived, find some more clues out about him, and Ellie’s missing mother.
And although she understood the invitation was a platonic one, she was worried about crossing the line and getting too friendly.
For all her talk (to herself) about how she wasn’t even slightly attracted to him, she was self-aware enough to know she might be fibbing.
Just a little. She didn’t need to complicate her life even further.
What she needed was a job, and some independence, not material to feed any romantic and wildly unhelpful crushes.
‘But I’ve already promised Sam fish and chips on the beach as a special Friday night treat. Thank you for the invite, all the same.’
‘No worries. We can do it another time.’
They reached the classroom and as they entered Sam and Ellie dropped the book they were browsing together in the library corner and hurtled at them at top speed.
‘Hey there, big guy.’ Sylvie dropped a kiss on Sam’s head and for the first time ever he looked up at her with abject horror. Her boy was growing up. She’d have to remind herself to keep her displays of affection limited to the house from now on.
‘Mum, can I go to Ellie’s for tea? We’re gonna make pizza and everything. And she got so much stuff to put on and we get to throw them.’
‘Throw them. Sounds exciting. But what about the beach?’
‘We could do that tomorrow, after you’re home from work.’ She couldn’t fault his problem-solving skills.
‘The invite still stands and you would both be very welcome,’ Alex murmured into her ear, lending his voice to the appeal, whereas Ellie took a far more flamboyant approach by jumping up and down on the spot and shouting, ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes. Pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza.’
‘Plus, I know from experience that she won’t stop that until you do as she wants, and in this particular instance I’m on her side so I’m going to let her. Go on, come. Unless the fish and chips thing was an excuse and there’s another reason you can’t?’
Um… how about because if I see you being all domesticated and perfect then my currently teeny crush will escalate to unimaginable proportions, said Sylvie. In her head.
‘OK, that sounds good.’ Were, thankfully, the words she actually spoke. ‘You’d best lead the way.’