The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings by Vanessa Stoykov

Author:Vanessa Stoykov
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780730348641
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2018-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Yearbook ­predictions

A feeling of elation had definitely built among the group, and they hadn’t felt so close in a long time. Laughter flowed easily, as did the usual teasing that went on with any group of Australian friends.

‘Mate, I think you like wearing that sports uniform,’ teased Russ to Jasper. ‘If only you could go back in time.’

‘Looks better on me than you,’ retorted Jasper, running over to collect the ball and dribbling up and down the court again.

Ben was watching Jasper thoughtfully. ‘Well, that would certainly match my yearbook prediction,’ he said.

‘What? That Jasper would be wearing teenagers’ clothes at 43!’ Russ burst out, laughing at his mate.

‘Kind of,’ Ben replied. Jasper looked at him indignantly. ‘You can’t have thought I was such a cock-up way back then, Ben?’

Ben leaned back and looked Jasper in the eye. ‘Mate, I don’t see you as a cock-up now. What I do see is someone who has always loved sport, who is naturally good at it, and who can make it fun for a whole bunch of other people. A team coach or sports teacher was where I predicted you would end up.’

Jasper looked surprised by this. He sat back down on the bleachers and thought about it for a minute. ‘You know, I always wanted to be the sports star, not be the one coaching others. But, as you can all see, that hasn’t happened.’

‘So retrain!’ piped up Jayne excitedly. ‘You would be a great coach! ‘Kids need fun and to be using sport as a way of blowing off steam. They’d have fun with you, but you’d also be someone they would trust.’

Jasper went slightly pink at this praise from Jayne. It had been a long time since anyone had said something positive about the impact he could have on the world. He had to admit, it felt good. But wasn’t he too old to be thinking about going to university for at least three years? And how would he afford it? He barely scraped by as it was.

‘I’ll think about it,’ he said, non-committally, but Ben wasn’t going to let him get away that easily.

‘Do more than that, Jasper. Come to my office and we can look at ways to use HECS to get the degree done. We can also have a think about what you could do part-time to make it all work.’

Ben was offering Jasper a lifeline. Something to aim for and define himself by — that wasn’t centred on being a layabout for the next 30 years. ‘It’s too good an opportunity not to do it, Jasper,’ interjected Jayne. ‘I’m going to make sure you meet with Ben. Consider me your personal nagger.’ She poked him in the ribs playfully.

‘Jayne is right and, as usual, she makes a good argument,’ piped up Ben, winking at her. ‘That really is a reflection of the yearbook prediction I made for her.’

Jayne looked up quizzically at Ben. She could guarantee Ben had not predicted her life turning out the way it had.

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