Jack, a university student, is going home for two weeks and there are so many people who want to catch up with him
Mum: What day do you finish school?
Jack: My last lecture's next Tuesday morning.
Mum: So you will be home on the … 18th?
Jack: Tuesday’s the 19th.
Mum: Right.
Jack: I have to attend the film society’s annual committee meeting on Wednesday morning.
Mum: Oh! You’ve not booked your flight yet? I hope you can get a seat. You’re leaving it a bit late, aren’t you?
Jack: I’ve just checked online, and there are still lots of seats available for the end of the week. I haven’t decided whether to fly on Thursday or Friday.
Mum: Why not?
Jack: I just haven’t made up my mind.
Mum: Is there something you’re not telling me?
Jack: Stop overthinking, Mum! I just haven’t made up my mind yet.
Mum: You’re usually much better organised than that. You’ve always booked your flight home for summer break weeks in advance.
Jack: Mum! You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Mum: Well, you’re only going to be back for two weeks and there are so many people who want to catch up with you. You should have known!
Jack: Relax, Mum!
Mum: Your Aunt Donna is flying in from Sydney just to see you. She hasn’t seen you since you went away to university.
Jack: Oh, no! Aunt Donna is staying at our place again? And she’s not bringing her awful two kids, is she?
Mum: Don’t be rude! Your cousins are not awful! And Donna is going to stay in a hotel. She has other friends in town that she wants to spend time with.
Jack: Thank goodness for that. She tires me out with her non-stop chatter. I’m coming home for a rest, not to entertain others. It’s been a hard term and I really want to relax when I’m home.
Mum: Before I forget, please set a day aside when you’re back to meet Cindy.
Jack: Cindy?
Mum: Your secondary school classmate, remember? She carried a torch for you for five years.
I bumped into her mother in a coffee shop last week and told her you were coming home at the end of school term, and that both of you could perhaps catch up.
Jack: Good grief! That obnoxious Cindy Lam! You know very well that I can’t stand the sight of her, and I certainly have no intention of meeting her.
Mum: You’ll never know!
Jack: Seriously, Mum. I am coming home to see you and Dad and Grandma, and that is it. Besides, it’s Gran’s birthday on the 26th, and I would like to bring her out for dinner.
Mum: Gran will like that.
Jack: Yeah, but do not invite anyone else. I will lock myself in my room if you do.
Mum: Very well, dear. But I will have to ask Aunt Donna. Now, what day did you say you were flying home?
END