Second Chances

CHANGE OF HEART

Angie breezed through her Carlton townhouse and took off her jacket. She placed it on the clothes hook and walked the narrow walkway to her bedroom. Piles of clothing lay on the floor and a hairbrush rested on the corner of her bed. Closing the beige curtain, Angie put on a crop top underneath her tracksuit. She wanted to head to the local gym for a quick workout after eating a light meal.

She wandered over to the kitchen and swung open the freezer to get a frozen meal when her brother, Jimmy, strolled inside.

"Hey, Angie."

She turned towards him, his dark eyes growing dimmer. His large hands threaded through his dark brown crop-style haircut.

"Hi, Jimmy. Are you okay?"

He hesitated. "Sure." Angie heated her frozen meal, waiting for the ping of the microwave oven then slamming the door. Jimmy sighed. "Oh, come on. Not frozen food again. I bought us tender T-bone steak."

She chewed her food then looked up at him. "I'm going to the gym while I'm still motivated to go. Tomorrow night we can have the steak. Would you like a fish cake?"

He sat on the table with his arms crossed, his eyes focusing away from her as if he was in his own little world. "No, and I've heard that same old story many times." He swallowed. "So how's the bookshop going?"

Her body energised as she dug into the food then took a sip of water. "Not great. I have to find other ways of increasing sales, but I don't know what to do. I started to sell loads of books in the beginning, but these last couple of months have been dead quiet." She had a thought. "Has Jack mentioned anything about expanding his woodwork business?" He looked pensive. "Do you know whether he plans to use the building next door to the bookshop?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Didn't he tell you that you could use the space for more books or a cafe? It was meant for you."

"I don't know, Jimmy. I can't afford to buy more stock so it's pointless to have that space."

"If Jack doesn't decide to use it in the future, you'll come up with something. You always do, Angie."

Angie frowned, not wanting to ruminate about her failing business. Packing up her food scraps, she took another sip of water and fetched her gym bag from the grey two-seater sofa. Throw pillows fell on the floor, but she left them there. Jimmy put the pillows back in their rightful place and tidied up the beige curtains, which had been messed up by Angie's gym bag. Cleaning was the last thing on her priority list. "And everything's okay with your course?"

He nodded. "I'm loving the course. I'm starting my placement at a youth drop-in centre in the next couple of months. I can't wait."

Angie smiled at Jimmy's choice of career in youth work. He thrived on helping people with his empathetic and understanding nature.

"Sounds interesting." She smiled and wrapped him in a big bear hug. "I'll catch you soon, Jimmy. I need to burn off those calories."

"Wait." She changed her stance and put down her gym bag.

Jimmy inched his way towards her. "Do you remember Jenna Dangles from high school?" Her mind flashed back to the shameful memories back then. She nodded. She'd been kind to Angie, one of the few former schoolmates who had. "Well, Jenna's sister, Dina, and I have recently become friends, and she mentioned how Jenna's started organising a school reunion. She's struggling to find more people to join the planning committee for the reunion. Apparently, someone pulled out at the last minute, and no-one wants to commit. Why don't you join?"

Angie winced. She didn't want to dredge up the horrid memories of high school. Why should she be a part of it? "I don't think so, Jimmy. I am pretty busy with the bookshop six days a week, so I don't think I'd have the time to commit."

Jimmy approached and touched her shoulder. "I understand how bad it was at school, but aren't you the one who always told me to help others in need? Contribute to the community? I think if you can confront the past, you'll be able to move forward. Take on the challenge. Isn't it what you drum into my head?"

Angie's breathing turned erratic. "I have moved forward, Jimmy."

"No, you haven't. I think, if you can get to the source of the problem, namely your school life, you won't have that over your head and you'll stop underestimating the kind of person you are. I know the bullying still bothers you. It needs to be faced, Angie."

She knew he was right, but she had closed that chapter of her life. Why rehash it? Angie had to admit that, in spite of all she achieved, a part of her body housed a deep sense of emptiness.

"And they're wanting to find a venue that is not expensive and has space.I guess the committee has a limited budget. Maybe you could offer the bookstore? It would bring in more income and get people there."

She angled her head, her mind churning at the possibility. Could she offer up her bookshop as a venue and bring in some extra revenue? They had all that space next door. It could be a good idea to bring in more revenue. They could rent out the shop and the space next door for events or meetings. She could focus on the bigger picture and see it as a business transaction. "Fine, Jimmy. I'll offer up the bookstore as a space, but only if I get a say on how the space is used. And a damage deposit."

"It sounds great, Angie. What a great idea. I'll tell Dina to get Jenna to ring you."

***

As Angie was leaving the gym, her phone buzzed in her bag. She dug into the gym bag and glimpsed the caller ID—a number she didn't recognise. She answered the call. "Hello."

"Angie...Is that you?"

The voice sounded familiar. "Yes, it's Angie. Who is this?"

"It's Jenna Dangles from high school. Do you remember me?"

She slouched as she made her way back to her car and entered. "Hi, Jenna. I do remember you. My brother, Jimmy mentioned being friends with your sister."

"Yes, Dina did tell me that. Anyway, I'm the main organiser of the reunion committee, and Jimmy mentioned you wanted to offer up your bookshop as a venue for the reunion celebration?"

Her hands shook slightly. "That's right." She could use the extra money and possibly have a side business to help pay for the bank loan. She didn't want to default on the loan, and if things didn't improve, she would.

"We do have funding to pay you for the venue, but I'll check it out and let you know. Now someone on the committee decided to pull out at the last minute. I haven't had much luck finding another committee member, and we do need one more. I would really appreciate one more person helping out. Would you be interested, Angie?"

Focus on the big picture, she thought. She'd always been the type to help out, and if she was offering the bookshop for a venue, Angie needed to be on the committee to make sure they choose it, and that decorations and activities didn't risk the store. "If I'm possibly having the venue at my bookstore, I really should help out."

"Great." She paused. "Do you have a space we could use for our meetings? Our home is getting renovated at the moment and I haven't asked anyone else yet. It'll give me a chance to check out the space. But I will understand if you say no, Angie. I can ask someone else."

She did have the space. Clenching her fists, she pushed down her nerves. "Sure."

"You're amazing, Angie. Thank you." She coughed. "I feel really bad I wasn't friends with you back in high school. I know you had your own friends, but I wanted to do more for you, and I think I should've stood up for you against those bullies. I was too gutless."

"That's ridiculous, Jenna. I remember you did give them a piece of your mind on a couple of occasions. Besides, you had no control over the pranks they pulled on me or the words they used. You had your own life and there is no need to make it up to me."

"Thanks for saying that, but I should've done more. Anyway, would next Wednesday night at seven be okay with you?"

"Sure. Not a problem. I can text you my address."

"I will let the others know. Thanks again, Angie. You're a life-saver."

She ended the call with a heavy heart, wondering if she made the right decision.