|
Andy and Jo were the perfect couple. They had a nice house, new car and now...a new baby. Jo was in the nice situation of not having to return to work. Andy's job was extremely well paid, and she could be a full-time mother to baby Michele. Motherhood was as great as Jo had imagined it to be. Michele slept like a dream, and at five months old she was becoming a real joy...and a beauty.
The neighbors envied the perfect couple and at times found them a little unapproachable. Jo had a rather smug attitude, and possibly she had every right to. Andy also came across as Mr. Perfection and could, at times, upset his counterparts with his too-good-to-be-true manner.
Every day, Jo would push little Michele in her designer buggy to the park. With her gleaming blonde hair blowing in the gentle summer breeze, Jo looked like a model. She had completely regained her former figure, and her skin glowed with health and happiness. Yes, she had it all...handsome husband with excellent prospects, beautiful baby, show-house home and...no friends.
The thing was that people found them both a little frightening. The neighbors were terrified of going to see Jo at home, in case they dropped coffee on the rich cream carpet or the matt gold tapestry suite.
Once, Andy had stopped his BMW car to give a lift to a male neighbor on his way to work. He had declined politely. What if he had scratched the leather upholstery with his old briefcase...no, he'd rather walk!
A couple of times, Jo had gone along to the mother and baby group in the local church hall. The other mothers had welcomed her but they had found her a trifle aloof. Jo hadn't meant to appear aloof. Maybe it was nerves. She had invited a few of them and their offspring to her home for a coffee morning. Only one had turned up, and she left after her baby had shown himself to be a champion at projectile vomiting!
Andy had invited Don Pearce and his wife to dinner. Don was his boss and his wife Pam was a charming lady. But after hours of hearing about Jo and Andy's holidays, bank accounts, parents' villas in various parts of Europe...and the perfect baby Michele, Pam developed a sudden migraine and they made their exit.
One day, .it all changed. Michele awoke in a terrible mood. Her cheeks were burning hot, and she screamed like a banshee. Jo knew that she was starting to teeth and tried her best to console her, to no avail.
She had to spend the entire morning nursing her and so applied no make-up to herself. She also made no beds...didn't tidy a thing, and Michele lay in a wet smelly nappy for far too long.
The mothers in the park actually commented. Where was Mrs. Posh? Perhaps she had broken a nail!
The same day Andy's BMW came to a standstill on the busy motorway. A couple of people recognized the car and its driver and passed by. However, George from the next street stopped and offered Andy a lift. Andy said that he had already called out the garage but thanked him for stopping. George actually stayed and spoke to him for a while. He was, in fact, quite a nice guy. It was a shame that he often came over as being pompous.
Andy eventually arrived home at seven that evening. As he pulled into the driveway, he relished his whisky and soda that Jo always poured for him when he stepped through the door. Michele, the little lamb would be asleep in her crib, and something good would be cooking.
Well, Andy thought for a minute that he had stepped in to someone else's home. Michele was screaming blue murder, Jo...his elegant wife looked like the wild woman from Borneo, and the house looked like Etna had just erupted.
Jo took one look at him and sobbed. She looked so pathetic standing there that he wanted to lift her straight in to his arms.
"Don't worry darling," he placated her. "Honestly, I'll do something on toast, for us both. You go and grab a shower and I'll put Michele to bed."
"She hasn't even been bathed yet," wailed Jo. "I must be an awful mother."
With that, Michele mimicked her mother and let out a blood-curdling yell. Suddenly, the doorbell sounded. Without even thinking about how she or the house looked, Jo opened the door. Yvonne, one of the mothers from the baby group...and the park was standing there. She gazed in amazement at Jo...her eyes all black and tearstained.
"I ...er, we were wondering if you were OK," she said. "You weren't in the park today."
She continued to look in amazement and Jo, not really caring for once what her house looked like, simply smiled at her. My God, thought Yvonne. She looks exhausted!
"Look" she said, amazing herself, "Jo, we're having a picnic in the park tomorrow, the forecast is good, forget the housework and join us."
Jo found herself nodding enthusiastically. It would be so nice to talk with other mothers.
"One thing" said Yvonne a little hesitantly, "Be yourself...you're much more approachable when you're a tired scatty mum like the rest of us!"
In spite of herself, Jo laughed and remembered old school reports. 'Thinks she is a cut above the others" had been mentioned more than once.
The next day, Andy left for work later than usual. Jo asked him why, and he told her that he and a couple of the neighbors had agreed to share lifts to work. Three of them would take it in turns to drive.
"They're a good group of guys," said Andy. "Perhaps we could have them and their partners around for a drink sometimes."
He waited for Jo's answer. She surprised him
"Yes, that'd be nice," she said.
Nowadays, Jo and Andy are still a couple to be envied. Their house is still lovely, although not quite as pristine maybe. Andy still has a good job, Michele is utterly delightful still, and Jo still turns heads whenever she goes out. One thing is different though...they have so many friends and are such genuinely nice people...at least that is what their huge group of friends think!
©2002 StoriesByEmail.com
|
