The Lunch

Mandy arrived flustered, she was positive the dress was too tight and certain the shoes were frumpy. At least she had remembered to put on her engagement ring, she was sure they would be wearing their rocks, competition was all.

Her little car crunched up the drive, she was late again. Rushing in with the flowers hastily picked from her garden, she caught the warmth of the house. A wreath on the door, tasteful, as ever, perfect in fact. "Darling, glad you could make it," whinnied Jo, taking in the dress and shoes at a glance. "And what charming flowers" she said grasping them momentarily before abandoning them on top of the fridge. The cinnomon smell of the Yule assaulted Mandy as she was steered down the hallway.

"Well, the girls are all here, come on through, lunch won't be a tick". Mandy stepped into the fray, in actual fact a lovely sitting room complete with tree and blazing fire. How perfect could this day get? Mandy was starting to feel queasy, was it the small sherry, the warmth of the room or the proximity of a pack waiting for prey?

Penny and Jenny stood together, not related in any way except by class. Felicity, large, organised and cheerfl, sat with her red wine, chatting to the small whining Caroline. What was going to be her ailment this week? Felicity would say the right thing whatever it was.

Mandy asked Jo if she could help. "No, no all under control" and it seemed to be. A lovely aroma eminated from the kitchen. Penny and Jenny said to the room, and no one in particular that Jo was just such an excellent cook. "Shall we?" said Jo and the group wafted through to the dinning room. The scent of Chanel and Estee Lauder competed for priority. Lunch was excellent: three courses, complete with non alcoholic drink and fat free cream. Christmas Santa was performed with the oos and ahs in the sitting room, except for the stunned silence when Mandy's charity rubber duck was released from it's Christmas paper, "oh well, it's the thought that counts" bleated Jo magnanimously.

"Now, no offence girls" said Jo "but no kissing today. Debrett's has decreed that since the swine flu jobby no contact, is the order of the day." Mandy let out an inaudible sigh of relief, not coming into contact with the powdery wrinkled faces of this lot was fine by her.

On the way home, the relief was palpable. Mandy performed her usual post mortem for such occasions. It had been a windy day and Jo's recycling bin lid had blown off, had she really spotted all those lovely high class supermarket boxes now empty of their premium product quiche and chocolate torte.