(Author’s note: I am currently in the beginning stages of transition from Australia to my next assignment, which will be in…I actually do not know where. We’ll see what happens. Here’s today’s Fictioneers offering, again not based on a true story.)
©Roger Bultot
Fellowship Hall
by Miles H. Rost
20 years.
Everyone was finally together. All 85 of Mitchell High School’s class of 1995. And the stories were flying.
“Do you remember Joan Snart? Apparently, she’s directing adult films in Hollywood.”
“Can’t be anything like my ex-boyfriend, Russell Graves. He’s the undercarriage cleaner for Greyhound in Seattle.”
The laughter was palpable, and the stories continued. That was, until the name was brought up.
“Anyone heard from Brian McLaurence?”
The entire place had become silent at that instant. The class looked at each other, and bowed their heads.
“Robbery,” someone said, “I was on duty. I found him. Died on scene.”
A sniffle started the flow of tears in the room.
Music and Fiction 
Dear Miles,
You’ve captured the class reunion scenario beautifully.
Shalom,
Rochelle
My 20 year is coming up in a couple of years. I am not imagining it like this…Thankfully.
Yowza.. I am not feeling any younger as 2016 will be 35 years since my graduation… And at our 10th reunion, we had a situation like your Brian. Our guy, Michel, had a stupid accident, drinking with buddies, challenged to climb up the outside of a triplex and lost his grip, falling to his death. Such a waste of a talented, out-going guy…
I just had a class reunion after 23 years, we had a great time. Unfortunately, we found out that 7 of our classmates died in those 23 years. Your story struck the chord, well done. Loved the music, too.
Funny that we were both inspired to the ‘school’ theme, by the photo. Good story.
Great minds think alike. ^_-
Imaginative response to the prompt. Well done.
I’ve been watching too much 1990s TV…
My husband’s going to an old school reunion this weekend – I hope it’s happier than this!
I hope so too!
I still wonder if school reunions are going to become another US thing that imports itself to the UK, like Black Friday.
No clue. I would doubt it, though. Just doesn’t seem like something they’d do.
I am not a fan of high school reunions…(mostly due to the fact that for me, high school was the most difficult time in my life), but I am a fan of this story. Great job!
Thanks! ^_^
Nice story. And you have portrayed the bitter-sweet reunion well.
Thank you! It’s something to work with. 🙂
That’s why I never go to reunions… (it’s a think in Germany, too, always has been afaik). For me, these years were the worst of my life, and I really don’t want to look back, partly because I’m afraid a lot of what you described would happen. Good story.
How sad. I often wonder about my classmates.
Sad story. Well written, and oh, so very true. There were 40 in my graduating class, and by our 10th anniversary, only 10 of remained. Damned Iraqi war!
I resist class reunions for pretty much these reasons. I don’t need to know the scurrilous details, and I don’t want to know the tragic ones.
That’s why I don’t go to my class reunions–I don’t want to know! Great story and good luck on the move!
I am with Lorna. I don’t wanna go to any of my class reunions.
That would be hard. I haven’t been to any class reunions yet, but it seems there would be a lot of this there, both life-measuring contests but also those uncomfortable moments like this.
I wait to see what mine brings…
I like how you’ve used dialogue to show the sudden change of mood as the bad news comes out. Well told. Good luck with the move, and enjoy your 20 year get-together when it arrives. It will probably be wonderful.
Not all reminiscing brings back great memories. Intensely told. Well done!
My 35 is coming up, and each year it gets more interesting. Frankly, kinder and less and clique’ish. You’ve captured the idea really nicely!