During our school years, we got up to quite a bit of mischief. Yet, that’s probably one of the best periods in anyone’s life, filled with memories, discoveries, and disappointments. This year marked 20 years since we finished school. As the most proactive of my classmates and still in touch with most of them, I took on the task of organizing our reunion.
Our class wasn’t large, so handing out invitations was straightforward. Some promised to come, others declined, living overseas now, but most agreed. The only one I couldn’t reach was Andrew. He vanished right after graduation, and no one knew what had happened to him.
Andrew and I were friends at school, sharing a desk. He was bright and helped me with my studies, but this didn’t stop others from teasing him. Andrew came from a poor background; he had no father, and his mother earned little, so he often wore worn-out clothes and carried an old backpack. Did it matter to me? No, but to others, it was like a red rag to a bull.
Andrew never rose to provocation nor got into conflicts. I was the only one who defended him. It’s no wonder he didn’t keep in touch with most of our classmates, and our friendship ended so abruptly too.
Just when I had given up hope of seeing my old friend, a miracle happened. I accidentally ran into Andrew’s mother, Patricia. She looked well, so it took me a moment to recognize her. We got talking, and she revealed that Andrew was living in another city. After I mentioned the upcoming reunion, she gave me his phone number. That evening, I called him.
Andrew recognized my voice immediately and seemed pleased to hear from me. We chatted for ages about life and school. When I explained the purpose of my call, Andrew surprisingly agreed to come. It seemed the years had erased all past grievances from his memory.
On the designated day, we gathered at a popular restaurant in town. Many had changed, though some were just the same. Classmates shared stories of their lives and achievements, bragging about who had done best for themselves. Most had families and children, though some were in no rush.
I began to worry Andrew wouldn’t show up, and just then, he walked in. I hardly recognized him: tall, distinguished in an elegant suit, radiating confidence and charm. All the girls were left speechless. Throughout the evening, he remained composed. When asked about his life, he humbly replied he was doing well enough. Andrew didn’t stay long, as he had another appointment. He politely excused himself and left the gathering.
As our reunion ended, I asked for the bill. The waitress announced, much to everyone’s surprise, that the meal was on the house, a remarkable gesture considering the substantial cost. Curious, I asked why we’d been given such a gift, and the waitress dropped a bombshell:
“Why, you were sitting with Mr. Andrew Smith, our owner. He instructed us not to charge for the banquet.”
Well, well, Andrew! He managed to impress his old classmates after all these years.
