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\par }{\insrsid13912371 The notice had gone on the board weeks ago \endash  the company barbeque would be held on the grounds on Friday, the 21}{\super\insrsid13912371 st}{\insrsid13912371  of July in the afternoon.
\par 
\par The Firm had a long-standing tradition of a \lquote summer do.\rquote  It had varied in the past from boat trips to a
 picnic in a park with a jazz band playing, but for the past several years it had been a barbeque, complete with spit-roast pig etc. Also laid on was entertainment \endash  this year there was a live band \endash 
 and drinks. Taxis would be available to take people home at the end. Another tradition was that people would make their way into the nearest town pub and continue the party there.
\par 
\par Stan was able to watch the large party tent being erected from his office. He told Elizabeth,
\par 
\par \'93You know, it\rquote s }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 so}{\insrsid13912371  much nicer here than it was at the old place. D\rquote you remember the view we had then?\'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth smiled, \'93Yes, the Chicken Factory next door. Ugly as sin and smelly as well.\'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth was watering Bob\rquote s plants. They joked that he was trying to build a hedgerow between his office and the outside world, although it wasn\rquote t really }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 that}{\insrsid13912371 
 bad. Bob was proud of his plants and Elizabeth liked them and enjoyed looking after them.
\par 
\par \'93I wish }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 I}{\insrsid13912371  could grow stuff,\'94 Stan grumbled. \'93I must have been born with brown fingers.\'94
\par 
\par \'93You just don\rquote t care enough about it,\'94 Elizabeth returned, with a grin.
\par 
\par  \'93If you cared about plants as much as you cared about music, you could grow things. But you always forget to water them, or you put them in the wrong place so they get direct sunlight when they\rquote d thrive on shade, or something\'85\'94
 she said lightly. Stan could tell she was only }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 mostly}{\insrsid13912371  joking though. He looked back out the window.
\par 
\par \'93Uh huh. Oh, look. Do you think the Health & Safety people would approve of the way that guy\rquote s balancing on the top of the tent?\'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth looked. She said, \'93I don\rquote t know\'85 Bob? You\rquote re the Safety guy. What do you think?
\par 
\par Bob emerged from his office, glanced over and, turning away, said, \'93I think }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 I}{\insrsid13912371  will go and get a coffee \endash  I really didn\rquote t see that at all!\'94
\par 
\par The three of them laughed. That was a standing joke every year when the tent was erected\'85 the crew never seemed to take safety precautions. On the other hand, it always seemed to be the same people, so they assumed no accidents occurred!
\par 
\par \'93Drinks with Denise again last night?\'94 Elizabeth asked.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, down at the }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Mitre}{\insrsid13912371  as usual.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m glad you two have become friends. It means I don\rquote t have to look at such a grouch all day.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I was pretty bad, wasn\rquote t I? Mind you,\'94 he went on, \'93I\rquote m not all that full of the joys of spring }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 now}{\insrsid13912371 .\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, Stan, I know. Yesterday you hardly said a word; no one could get through to you. Even when Denise came around to confirm for the }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Mitre}{\insrsid13912371  you hardly spoke.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I know. Yesterday was Caron\rquote s birthday. She\rquote d have been 41.\'94
\par 
\par \lquote Oh dear,\rquote  Elizabeth thought, \lquote I\rquote d forgotten}{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 .}{\insrsid13912371 \rquote 
\par 
\par \'93Stan, are you okay?\'94 she tenderly asked.
\par 
\par \'93I\'85 I think so. Before I went out last night I went to the cemetery, and laid some flowers. Caron didn\rquote t mind me going for a drink with Denise, so that was all right.\'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth blinked. There was a lengthy pause, and she was about to say something, when Stan continued,
\par 
\par \'93Denise and I got on well, actually. She wants me to go on the pub crawl on Friday.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, you always }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 used}{\insrsid13912371  to!\'94 Elizabeth told him.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I know.\'94 He paused, then went on in a slightly more quiet tone, \'93I probably will. Let\rquote s see how I feel.\'94
\par 
\par Stan glanced out of the window as a movement caught his eye.
\par 
\par \'93Christ! I\rquote ve not seen them do }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 that}{\insrsid13912371  before!\'94
\par 
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\par Elizabeth waited in the canteen to find Denise.
\par 
\par \'93Boo!\'94
\par 
\par \'93What!? Oh, Denise, you made me jump!\'94 She continued with narrowed eyes: \'93I\rquote ll get you for that!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Couldn\rquote t resist. You want to grab a table? I\rquote ll get the salads.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sounds good.\'94
\par 
\par They sat at a table together, and started on their salads. They chatted away for a minute or two.
\par 
\par \'93How\rquote s Harry?\'94 Denise asked.
\par 
\par \'93Oh! That son of mine. }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Now}{\insrsid13912371  he\rquote s dating a glamour model. Michelle\rquote s nearly young enough to be his daughter, too. I don\rquote t know how he does it,\'94 Elizabeth answered, affectionately. \'93
She\rquote s certainly keeping him hopping, from what he tells me.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sounds like it! What is he, nearly 40?\'94
\par 
\par \'93He\rquote s 39, and he\rquote ll insist on it if you ask him!\'94 Elizabeth grinned. \'93My Kelly\rquote s 37 now, still hasn\rquote t settled down either. She\rquote s off to Amsterdam with some of her friends to visit my sister next week.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Going to bring back anything\'85 }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 special}{\insrsid13912371 ?\'94 Denise asked slyly.
\par 
\par \'93I }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 really}{\insrsid13912371  don\rquote t think so! }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 I}{\insrsid13912371  never brought her up that way, honest!\'94 They both dissolved in giggles. Denise knew about Elizabeth\rquote s past as a 
\lquote child of the sixties\rquote  \endash  she\rquote d been in her mid twenties when things were \lquote happening\rquote , and had been a full part of the lifestyle. This after being a \lquote Mod\rquote , before meeting her \lquote Rocker\rquote 
 future husband. Denise had told her that, \'93It sounds like something out of }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Quadrophenia.}{\insrsid13912371 \'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth went on, \'93That daughter of mine! She\rquote s such a trial. A bit }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 wild}{\insrsid13912371 , as they say, partying hard, never looked like she\rquote d settle down. Kelly always liked Stan, but he was always }{
\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 so}{\insrsid13912371  married. She liked Caron, too,\'94 Elizabeth continued. \'93Kelly thought they
 were perfect for one another. I caught her looking wistfully at Stan & Caron a couple of times, though. I think she envied that pair their close, stable relationship, especially when she compared it to her own life.\'94
\par Elizabeth took a breath, before going on, \'93Sadly, when Caron died, she took it hard. She dumped her boyfriend and took off on another round of parties, with a different partner every couple of weeks. Thankfully I\rquote 
ve been able to talk to her, and she\rquote s found herself a nice guy \endash  he\rquote s an Estate Agent, but he\rquote s a good man.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, that must be a weight off your mind,\'94 Denise said.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, it was, but I\rquote ve always believed in Kelly, I always thought she\rquote d come around. It even took me a long time to settle down: after I married George, he and I were, shall we say, }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 adventurous}{\insrsid13912371 
 in our relationship,\'94 she said with a wink at Denise, \'93so I can\rquote t really complain about Kelly overmuch.\'94
\par 
\par Denise turned serious. \'93You know yesterday would have been Caron\rquote s birthday.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, Stan said. He visited her grave, of course.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I know, he told me. He said he spoke to her.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Did he say what she said?\'94 Elizabeth asked.
\par 
\par \'93Not really, just that he\rquote d spoken to her. I suppose that\rquote s pretty much what everyone does in a situation like that.\'94
\par 
\par \'93It is. I still speak to George, after all this time, when I visit him. Well\'85\'94 she said, a little gruffly, \'93Stan told }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 me}{\insrsid13912371 
 that Caron had said she was fine with you and him going for a drink, so I suppose you\rquote ve got permission from her for that!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Good! Let\rquote s see if I can get him to }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 really}{\insrsid13912371  relax tomorrow \endash  especially tomorrow night!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13912371 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13912371 - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13912371 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13912371 
\par It was Friday afternoon, and not much work had been done during the morning \endash  just the usual urgent items, and tidying of desks, that sort of thing. By half past twelve the first people started walking across the lawn, and by one o\rquote 
clock just about everyone was in, or just outside, the party tent
\par 
\par The tent was a large affair, about 75\rquote  by 25\rquote , with two \lquote peaks\rquote  where the main support poles were. It shone brilliant white in the sunshine, w
ith plastic tables and chairs set up outside and benches inside, a small area set aside for the band to use as a stage, and another cleared for dancing. Not that Stan had any intention of dancing himself, but he did like to watch, and he enjoyed listening
 to the live band. There was a crowd around the bar at the back, as usual manned by one of the directors, and food was served, buffet style, on the right where people were also gathering.
\par 
\par It was a hot, dry day, and the drinks were flowing already. These events were intended as mixers, to reduce the \lquote Us and Them\rquote 
 mentality that you get when people stick to their own departments, and they worked well. Stan was well used to them; his job in Quality meant he was used to working with all the departments, and the people were all colleagues he knew.
\par 
\par Denise, too, by nature of her job, had a similar advantage, and they drifted together, going from group to group, saying \'93Hi!\'94 and generally chewing the fat.
\par 
\par \'93Hey, don\rquote t you make quite the pair?\'94 It was Elaine, with a broad smile.
\par 
\par  \'93I guess we do, don\rquote t we?\'94 replied Denise.
\par 
\par Stan, too, was grinning. \'93Just so long as people don\rquote t leap to conclusions, unless those conclusions include a collection, of course\'85 \'94 he ended his remark with a raised eyebrow.
\par 
\par Denise giggled. \'93You know full well that the most likely reasons for having a collection around here are \lquote Marriages, Retirements and Births\rquote . We\rquote re not getting married, I\rquote m too young to retire, and I\rquote 
m sure as hell NOT pregnant!\'94
\par 
\par Elaine answered Denise\rquote s giggle with one of her own.
\par 
\par \'93Yup \endash  I\rquote m sure there\rquote s something that had to happen }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 before}{\insrsid13912371  that. Now I\rquote m not sure, you know, but I don\rquote t }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 think}{\insrsid13912371 
 you two have gone that far yet, have you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Not likely!\'94 snorted Stan. \'93It\rquote s odd, you know. I could spend an evening a week going 
for a drink with, say, Bob, and no one would say a word about it. Denise could go out with Elizabeth, same thing. But Denise and me? Suddenly everyone assumes that because we\rquote re opposite genders, we }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 have}{\insrsid13912371 
 to be having sex. }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Hello!}{\insrsid13912371  Just friends here!\'94
\par 
\par \'93But }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 good}{\insrsid13912371  friends, Stan,\'94 said Denise, \'93not \lquote friends with benefits\rquote , we\rquote re }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 good}{\insrsid13912371  friends.\'94
\par 
\par Elaine just smiled. Stan could be a little clueless, sometimes, but he }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 was}{\insrsid13912371  a nice guy.
\par 
\par The three of them joined the queue for food. A little ahead of them was Elizabeth.
\par 
\par \'93Elizabeth, why don\rquote t you grab a table for the four of us?\'94 Denise called, and Elizabeth nodded.
\par 
\par Soon enough the four of them were seated, tucking in to the barbequed suckling pig. Well, Stan did, anyway. The three ladies had some chicken on their plates, but mostly it was salad.
\par 
\par Elaine brought each of them something to drink and soon they were all chatting away.
\par 
\par Then\'85 someone started the jokes. 
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ve got one, said Stan. \'93Little Mary was not the best student in Sunday School. Usually she slept through the class. One day the teacher called on her while she was napping, \lquote Tell me, Mary, who created the universe?\rquote 
 When Mary didn't stir, little Johnny, an altruistic boy seated in the chair behind her, took a pin and jabbed her in the rear. \lquote God Almighty!\rquote  shouted Mary and the teacher said, \lquote Very good\rquote  and Mary fell back to sleep.\'94

\par 
\par Elizabeth, Denise and Elaine were already laughing.\line \line Stan continued, \'93A while later the teacher asked Mary, \lquote Who is our Lord and Savior?\rquote  But Mary didn't even stir from her slumbe
r. Once again, Johnny came to the rescue and stuck her again. \lquote Jesus Christ!\rquote  shouted Mary and the teacher said, \lquote Very good,\rquote  and Mary fell back to sleep. Then the teacher asked Mary a third question, \lquote 
What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?\rquote  And again, Johnny jabbed her with the pin.\'94
\par 
\par Denise interrupted with, \'93This time Mary jumped up and shouted, \lquote If you stick that in me one more time, I'll break it in half!\rquote  \'94
\par 
\par Elaine and Elizabeth broke out into peals of laughter, while Stan was unable to stifle his own even though Denise had stolen his punch line. He gathered the glasses together and asked, \'93Drinks all \lquote round?\'94
 The others nodded their assent through their continued giggles.
\par 
\par Stan stood and turned in a single action, and suddenly was staring at Anne\rquote s cleavage \endash 
 from a range of less than six inches. They stood there in tableau for a long, long moment. Stan looked up to make eye contact after forcing himself to drag his eyes northward. Anne was again wearing one of her wraparound sk
irts, but this time had a very attractive \endash  and low cut \endash  white top.
\par 
\par Anne recovered first. \'93Oh! Sorry, please excuse me.\'94
\par 
\par \'93No problem.\'94 Stan wondered what to do for a moment longer and then inspiration struck. He glanced down at Anne\rquote s empty bottle. \'93Can I get you a drink?\'94
\par 
\par Anne laughed, \'93Now\rquote s the time to do it. I\rquote d heard about these things, but not experienced them. I missed the Christmas party, but heard all about it. Free drinks at a company get together?\'94
\par 
\par \'93So?\'94 Stan asked, looking pointedly at the bottle of premixed vodka she was holding.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ll have a Smirnoff Black Ice, please!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sit with us?\'94
\par 
\par \'93OK, just for a bit. I\rquote m leaving soon.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, why\rquote s that?\'94 asked Elizabeth, as Anne sat down and Stan went to get the drinks.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13912371 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13912371 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Stan brought the drinks back to the table on a tray. Serving the drinks, he returned it and grabbed a chair, pulling it around to sit between Denise and Elizabeth.
\par 
\par \'93Thanks, Stan,\'94 said Elizabeth. \'93Cheers!\'94 They all clinked.
\par 
\par It was awkward.
\par 
\par Elaine said, into the gap, \'93Anne\rquote s got to go home tonight, because she\rquote s packing \endash  holiday next week in Tenerife. Isn\rquote t that exciting, Stan?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Certainly is,\'94 said Stan.
\par 
\par \'93It\rquote s just a quick, cheap break before the chip comes back. I won\rquote t have any time afterwards, and I couldn\rquote 
t book it before in case there was a problem, or God forbid, the damn thing came back early! Just a longer weekend, really, I come back to work on Wednesday. So I\rquote ve got to get home reasonably early. My flight\rquote 
s at five in the morning and I have to get to the airport.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Whereabouts in }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Tenerife}{\insrsid13912371 ?\'93 Denise asked. \'93I\rquote ve always wanted to go, but never got there.\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Puerto de la Cruz}{\insrsid13912371 . It\rquote s in the north of the island.\'94
\par 
\par \'93The advantage of the }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Canaries}{\insrsid13912371  is that they\rquote re nice any time of year. Just make sure you take plenty of sun-tan lotion, Anne, with that fair hair of yours, I expect you burn easily.\'94
 Elizabeth said.
\par 
\par Denise laughed, \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 She\rquote ll}{\insrsid13912371  burn easily? I\rquote ve had to stay in the shade virtually all afternoon! Besides, I don\rquote t really tan, so much as my freckles grow closer!\'94
\par 
\par The four ladies laughed. Stan\rquote s smile was, he knew, a bit forced, but he didn\rquote t think anyone had noticed. The conversation turned to what he thought of as \lquote feminine gossip\rquote  and he zoned out.
\par 
\par Elizabeth, sitting on his right, leaned closer to him. \'93Are you all right, Stan?\'94 she quietly asked.
\par 
\par \'93Our honeymoon was in }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Puerto de la Cruz}{\insrsid13912371 .\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, I\rquote m sorry,\'94 she said so softly Stan almost didn\rquote t hear.
\par 
\par In a more normal voice, Elizabeth asked Elaine if she\rquote d be going on the pub crawl afterwards.
\par 
\par \'93Sure am! I\rquote ll be meeting Susan in the }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 King\rquote s Keys}{\insrsid13912371 , are you coming?
\par 
\par \'93Is that who you were with the other night?\'94 asked Denise, and Elaine nodded. \'93We\rquote ve been together almost a month now, and it\rquote s looking good so far. We\rquote ll just have to see how it goes.\'94
\par 
\par Stan mentally shook himself, and said, \'93Well, best of luck, Elaine. }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 We}{\insrsid13912371  know you\rquote re a catch!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13912371 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13912371 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par The cabs started arriving to take people away, and Anne wished everyone a good night. After she\rquote d left, Elizabeth said her good-byes too, with a wink at Denise and Stan.
\par 
\par Elaine grabbed a cab. \'93You coming with?\'94 she asked, and Stan nodded at the same time as Denise.
\par 
\par At the }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Keys}{\insrsid13912371 , Elaine quickly found Susan and introduced her to Stan and Denise. They were relatively early, so they were able to find a booth.
\par 
\par Susan was a quiet, short, dark haired girl with a pretty face partially hidden behind some }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 seriously}{\insrsid13912371  thick glasses, but it quickly became apparent that she was the centre of the two girls\rquote 
 relationship. Elaine got her drinks and food, and was quite content to wait on her hand and foot. }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 Quite}{\insrsid13912371  content \endash 
 she had a happy smile on her face all evening, even beyond her usual upbeat self. For her part, Susan held Elaine\rquote s hand as much as possible. In fact the two were almost inseparable, and clearly infatuated with one another.
\par 
\par Denise told Stan, when the other pair had gone to the bathroom, \'93Ah! Young love, you just can\rquote t beat it!\'94
\par 
\par Stan had to agree.
\par 
\par The four of them had a great evening. Elaine and Susan made their farewells shortly before midnight, saying they were off to a club. Denise tried to get Stan to go too, but he was having none of it, saying, \'93I\rquote m too old to be clubbing \endash  I
\rquote ll look ridiculous!\'94 and wouldn\rquote t be moved. Denise pouted, but knew when she was beaten.
\par 
\par So the two friends got a taxi home. They reached Denise\rquote s house first.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ve had a good evening, Stan. Thanks for coming out.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I had a good time, too, Denise. I always }{\cs16\i\insrsid13912371 used}{\insrsid13912371  to, as you and Elizabeth have reminded me. Good night, and see you Monday.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sure,\'94 she said, and leaned forward to kiss him.
\par 
\par Stan evaded, taking it on the cheek. Denise pulled back, looking at him, considering. \'93You know, Stan, sooner or later you\rquote re going to have to get over it. You might as well make a start now.\'94
\par 
\par Hearing his favourite practical advice paraphrased in that fashion made Stan stop and think, and before he knew it Denise had quickly touched her lips to his.
\par 
\par \'93Good night, Stan.\'94
\par 
\par Stan barely had the presence of mind to say \'93G\rquote night\'94. Denise walked off to her house, and, turned to wave in her open doorway. Stan waved back, and the cab took him home.
\par 
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\par }}