F*cked up Reunion

Chapter 1

Lydia Deetz, now a full grown woman, entered the main area of a New York apartment. Adulthood became a somewhat lonely existence for Lydia, everybody with conflicting schedules and rare phone calls; and of course she expected this from her busy father, but never from her best ghostly friend. Ever since her sophomore year in college, Lydia has call his name but he never appeared; not right before her or even through a mirror, nothing. It was like he was erased from the face of all existence. But Lydia has always pressed on looking greatly on the future and with that she continued with her life.

Lydia entered her home, apartment number 705, with groceries in hand. She looked to her roommate Star, a friend she grew to know in college, who was already cooking dinner. "Mmm… What's that?" Lydia asked delighted by the pleasant aroma.

"Rainbow Trout" Star replied and gave Lydia the mail.

Lydia flipped carelessly though bills and junk mail until she noticed an invitation to her high school reunion. Peaceful Pines, as the small community it is, featured all schools at once for the even; there was Miss Shannon's school for Girls, St. Joseph's Catholic School for Boys, Rathner co-ed military school, and Peaceful Pines public school. The reunion consisted of a daytime picnic with games and evening banquet with dancing. "Hmm… Not going" Lydia declared and threw the invitation in the trash but it slid away and onto the floor.

Victoria, Lydia's fourteen year old daughter; picked up the invitation and read it. "Mother, why do you not wish to attend this reunion?"

"Because Peaceful Pines sucks" Lydia replied and then slumped on the couch. She remembered the constant teasing of a blonde spoiled rich classmate, but that's not really hurt; it was the town peoples overly judgmental reaction to a racy photograph she didn't submit; and then a couple of months after that, her step-mother kicked her out the house for being a pregnant teen; but worst of all, Beetlejuice didn't respond to her calls.

Betty, Lydia's sixteen year old daughter; rollerbladed into the room. She couldn't hear the two over the loud rock music playing on her headphones. "Betty," Lydia called but wasn't heard "Betty!" She called again and still wasn't heard. It wasn't until Victoria threw a throw pillow at her youngest that gained attention.

Betty removed her headphone, music still playing through the speakers "Hey, what's up?" She said and then pointed at her job logo tank top "I gotta job ya'll"

"Juggs?" Lydia frowned, reading the name of a restaurant well known for hiring girls based upon their large bra sizes "You work at Juggs? Do you know that you're only sixteen?"

"Yup," Betty replied proudly "and I can get Vicky an interview too once you sign her job permit."

"I didn't know they allowed fourteen years old to work in that joint" Star said while setting the table.

"Oh yeah," Betty said carelessly waving away "they have a whole of 'em there."

Lydia just shook her head. She wanted Betty to quit the job but after the previous months of comforting what was a long exhaustingly frustrated search, it was just best to be supportive, at least for now. She chose not to say anything and so just sat down and ate.

Victoria, who could read her mother as easily as a book; only chose to say a few words "Congratulations Betty, I hope you do well." She admired her older sister's smile and moved on to the next subject "Mother's going to her high school class reunion" she announced

Lydia spat out her food "Whu? I didn't say that."

"Mother, I think you should attend" Victoria stated and then showed her sister the invitation.

"Sweet" Betty commented simply with a grin

"No, I'm not going" Lydia frowned

"C'mon Lydia," Star intervened "maybe you'll meet your old friends and roll in the grass with a new flame, it might be good for you."

Lydia eyed Star with a raised brow "Is your mind ever out of the gutter?"

"It is, but not at the moment" Star smoothly replied in a melodious tone.

"Mother please," Victoria urged

"C'mon ma, go for it" Betty agreed

Lydia sighed heavily "Oh, ok" she agreed hesitantly.

After desert, Lydia stayed in the dining area sitting in front of the laptop and purchased the reunion ticket and booked her flight and motel reservations. "I should make them come with me," She grumped under her breath. Lydia looked to Star upon entering the room, "What will do while I'm gone?" she questioned. Star grinned in thought; the last time Lydia left for the week they had a party. "It's another stag party, isn't it?"

Star grin grew even wider "How did you know?"

"Lucky guess" Lydia simply replied and then shut down the laptop. "Do you want to watch the midnight movie on channel 6 with me?"

"Not this time, I have a long day tomorrow" Star replied and then began heading toward the rear hall "Goodnight"

"Goodnight" Lydia said and then made her usual rounds. Betty and Victoria, who shared a room, were both asleep. Betty laid on her bed with earphone still playing and Victoria laid on her bed with a book over her face. Lydia turned off Betty's MP3 player and gently removed the earphones, and then removed the book from Victoria's face and placed it on the end table; kissed both girls on the forehead and left the room.