(764) Observations from high school reunion

It was a reunion tea in honour of a class mate who visited from Canada. So far, she visited once in two years. She married late in life, she was about ten years behind us. The first few times we met her, we married mothers of many years were basking in her newly-wedded bliss that lasted longer than ours because she missed out of the short biological clock for child-bearing.

This time, however, the honeymoon was over. For the very first time, she expressed her frustration over the mid-life changes that each married man undergoes by different decisions that often drive his wife up the wall. We the old timers who, in spite of whatever nonsense we rationally put up with  to stay married, knew that not everyone can be happily married ever after. We look knowingly and smiled at each other while our long been away buddy unloaded all the stored up negative feelings. There is something about confessing to childhood friends whom one used to fight battles over desk space with wooden rulers. All barriers come down and we all know that no one would dream of using such information against an old friend.

Whoever wanted to react to what was said had their two minute slot. Our moderator Bessie chose to pass the invisible mike to Evie. Now I must explain that Evie had never said a thing against her husband and children all these years. Those of us in the know are well aware of how her older children bully her and how her husband pushed her to the wall. This time I could see that Evie not only wish to avoid speaking to a bunch of fighting-prone hens, she could only smile bitterly while declining the chance to say her piece.

A few days later, I met Evie's child's tutor. The tutor had resorted to charging a flat rate for once a week tuition and throw in a free weekly session during other children's slot. Those paying children would have 95% of her attention. Whenever the tutor walks to the kitchen for a drink or to the  bathroom for a break, the child getting the free session will have momentary guidance, be it composition, comprehension or summary making.

The interesting part is that Evie's family will be moving to a multi-million dollar house soon. Evie had been driving an expensive car worth three times the value of the tutor's apartment. And the shocking thing is I actually told the tutor that looking at that bitter smile and the declining hands pushing the lime light away, I believe Evie if she said she could not afford to pay for twice a week session for her dark horse of a child in terms of exam results.

For I heard through reliable sources that her husband is supporting two wives with children in both families. I can just imagine how Evie needed to juggle her house keeping money while maintaining appearances. Heaven helps her if she let tutoring suck up her personal savings, for hubby had not been treating her well at all. Neither can she hope to depend on her older children, they do not have her interest at heart. As to the youngest who requires so much personal coaching, he has no drive. The only way she can take care of her old age would be to salt up as much hard cash as she can while she works and runs her house.