Robert was on his way to a school reunion. He hadnt seen his old classmates in thirty yearshed simply never had the time. Straight after secondary school, hed left tiny Wellingford for university in Bristol. First it was lectures, then he threw himself into work.
Later, when he fancied earning a bit more, he started his own business. It was a rollercoaster: one minute up, the next down. Sometimes, he did miss those school friends. In his spare moments, hed scroll through their embarrassing throwback photos online and occasionally put up some of his ownin the most flattering lighting, naturally.
He was particularly keen to see Sophie. Robert was absolutely besotted with her during sixth form, but Sophie barely batted an eyelid in his direction. Bookish blokes werent her thing. Last time hed gone round with a bunch of daffodils, shed hopped on the back of Jamess motorbike without so much as a backwards glance at the flowersand vanished in a cloud of exhaust and teenage hormones. After that, he gave her a wide berth. Hed always wanted to ask her to come away with him, maybe even save her from herself a bit. But, course, he never did.
Robert didnt really have a close crowd at schoolhe was forever revising. His mates were limited to the other geeks from after-school maths club, spending their evenings tackling A-level past papers.
He turned up at the reunion in cracking spirits, even bringing a little gift for each classmate. For every single onedidnt forget a soul.
The group piled into a quaint tea room. Laughter and tales bounced off the mismatched china. Robert gazed thoughtfully around at the old gangbut mostly at Sophie. He couldnt help himself; he was studying her. She, meanwhile, kept her distance, busy scrolling on her phone as if trying to swipe him out of reality. After school, Sophie had, as rumour foretold, married that James. Only, Robert soon found out, theyd split yonks ago and she was now single-handedly raising a poorly son.
Determined, Robert approached her. He wasnt really prepared for the barrage.
You live in your country manor and have no clue what people like us go through! Ive seen where you live! Your wife doesnt even work, just pops into salonsyes, Ive seen her too. You must have a small army of staff, even though they never appear in your photos. Your kids are off at some posh university abroad, and Ive got my ill son to care for. What do we have to talk about? Youd never understand.
Sophie, is it really my fault youre having a rough time?
Theres never enough money for poorly kids in this country, and people like you just sit on piles of it, greedy as anything!
Robert bristled. He didnt enjoy this topic, but he wasnt going to let it go.
Sophie, how many sick children have you actually helped?
My son is ill! Besides, I send the odd donation text when I can.
Well, I make regular, hefty donations to charity. I just dont shout about it. So which of us is really doing more?
Its easy for youdonating an extra hundred grand doesnt make a dent. My help means more, because every quid I send literally comes off my plate. You know how I earn it? Every morning, I drag myself to work on two buses to scrape by on pennies!
People were staring now. Some nodded at Sophie, the rest just sipped their tea.
Robert got up to leave. On his way out, he left the presents on the table and asked the waiter to deliver Sophie an envelope.
He strode away, lost in thought. Theyd all had the same opportunities. Loads of them in that classroom were just as clever. But heRoberthad chosen studying over hanging out at the local with cheap lager. Studying over sneaking behind the bike sheds for a smoke. Studying, not the sticky-floored nightclubswell, except on rare occasions. He picked the university he was passionate about and worked for it, instead of just drifting into the local vocational college. Hed taken risks, leapt out of his comfort zone, and built his own business.
Hed fought his way forward. Learnt new skills. It wasnt all plain sailinghed had setbacks and failures too. Was it really his fault that his old friends picked their paths and now resented him for having a bigger house? For his life? It wasnt like hed pinched their moneyhed earned it fair and square.
And how many of us know someone like Sophieand the otherswho love to add up other peoples money? Sure, some folks get lucky, born with a silver spoon and the chance for a cracking education. But there are heaps of stories about kids from nothing, parents who never even finished their GCSEs, who make it on their own grit. In the end, its all down to us. Everyone gets to choose for themselves.
