“Africa,” replied Jonathon. “And I think it’s on the east coast.”
“Africa!” Amie took a deep breath. “Go and live in Africa?” She enunciated each word slowly and carefully.
“I thought you’d be pleased,” Jonathon repeated. “It’ll be a whole new experience for both of us.”
“A new experience? Yes.” said Amie as the realisation of what Jonathon had just said really began to sink in. “Let’s start again; repeat what you just said. I don’t quite believe this.”
“The company has asked me, well, us of course, to go and open a new branch office in Apatu. That’s the capital of Togodo, and get a new plant up and running … um …” Jonathon fumbled for the right words. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I never expected to be a project manager so soon, even though they sponsored me through Uni. It’s a real chance for us. Oh, Amie, I thought you’d be as excited as I am!”
Amie looked at her new husband. She had automatically assumed he had the same plans for their future as she had. They’d talked about living in the town where they both grew up. They’d have a family, send the kids to their old school, socialise with the people who’d been friends since kindergarten, join the golf club, and look forward to the annual dinner dances. There was always the possibility of them moving a few miles away, perhaps as far as Scotland? But overseas … well, that had never entered her mind.
“How long have you known about this?” asked Amie suddenly.
“Only since Tuesday, and …”
“Two days! Two whole days, and you’ve not said a word?” Amie was astounded.
“I wanted the right setting, the right place to tell you,” Jonathon tried to explain. “And you know how this place gets booked up. This is the first night they had a free table.”
Amie wasn’t stupid, she guessed Jonathon had planned to tell her his news in a public place, it was a way of making sure she’d keep her emotions in check. Not only that, but he’d chosen the most expensive restaurant in the area; everyone knew how exorbitant their prices were. Like a lamb to the slaughter, she’d followed him inside, wondering if it was an anniversary she’d missed, or a special occasion she’d forgotten. No, it was to drop this bombshell.
Jonathon watched Amie, trying to gauge her reactions beneath the initial outburst. He thought he knew her; they’d been together for almost ten years, since primary school. His mind flashed back to the first time he’d really noticed her, in a science lesson in high school. He remembered her sitting at her desk, lost in a world of her own, chewing the end of her pen and gazing out of the window.
“Miss Reynolds, from what you read last night, can you tell me who discovered the light splitting properties of the prism?” Mr Johnson had asked.
Amie was miles away, and didn’t hear a word.
“Miss Reynolds?”
“Uh … yes, Sir? What Sir?”
“What, indeed. And the answer?”
“Um,” Amie played for time. She could hardly give the answer if she didn’t know what the question was.
“I take it you were too busy washing your hair, or glued to the box, or on Facebook to study last night?” Mr Johnson’s words dripped with sarcasm.
“Oh no! No, Sir,” Amie replied. “I read all about it. Chapter six, kinetic energy.”
“Really?” replied Mr Johnson, “the rest of the class studied Chapter five. So next week when the rest of us have caught up with you, you’ll be able to explain all about kinetic energy.”
“Yes, Sir. No, Sir,” Amie didn’t know what to say.
At that moment, while the rest of the class giggled enjoying her discomfort, Jonathon fell in love with her. He looked at her long blonde hair, big grey eyes, slender figure and vowed that one day he would marry her.
But it wasn’t easy. She was a popular student and the boys would crowd round her at break time. It was difficult to even get a chance to talk to her alone.
It took several months for him to pluck up the courage to ask her out, and was utterly amazed when she agreed to go with him to the bowling alley. He was sure she’d turn him down flat.
That first date was a success, and so was the next one and the one after that, until they were acknowledged as an item, and the rest of the testosterone laden hunters gave way and pursued other young ladies.
Jonathon worried himself sick when he went away to university, and Amie stayed home and attended the local technical college, but each vacation break reassured and reaffirmed his feelings. When he had to travel away on site visits, he also worried about all the famous people she’d meet in the glamorous world of television. But he soon realised Amie seldom got up close to anyone particularly famous, and most of her day was spent not only as receptionist, but also as general runner: sourcing props, booking accommodation, filing log sheets, typing up call sheets and making numerous cups of coffee.
They’d always got on well, and they seldom fought, but Jonathon knew this was totally new ground, and he didn’t really know how Amie would react. It was in this very restaurant that he’d proposed only a year ago, and although he’d been nervous then, it was nothing compared to how he felt now.
Amie looked at Jonathon. She hadn’t been thinking about when they first fell in love, she’d been thinking about what she’d expected their future life to be, and going to live in some African hellhole was not part of her plans at all. She fiddled with her dessert spoon and fork.
“Look, I can turn it down if you’re really unhappy about it,” said Jonathon.
“You’ve already said ‘yes,’ haven’t you?” Amie challenged him.
“Well, I have, but I can always change my mind. I can say no.”
“If you turn down this promotion, then it’s not likely you’ll be offered another one is it?” said Amie slowly.
“I’m not thirty yet, and I can always move to another company in a year or so, and …”
“You and I both know you’ve specialised in this field, and there aren’t many companies doing desalination work and mostly, now I think about it, that sort of work is overseas?”
“I suppose so, but I never thought we’d have to move. I never thought working in the design office, making trips to site offices in Britain, that I’d be asked to travel overseas. This came right out of the blue,” Jonathon lied.
Amie sat still and said nothing. Jonathon couldn’t gauge her reaction at all. Now she’d had a few moments to let it all sink in, was she pleased or horrified? He had to admit the offer coming so quickly had taken him by surprise, but when they’d asked him, it had been in the boardroom in front of all the directors. They’d all expected him to be thrilled and delighted and not for a moment did they even consider he would turn down the career opportunity of a lifetime. He knew what they expected, and he also admitted to a bolt of pure excitement in tackling a new project in a new place where for once, he didn’t have to answer to anyone else.
They’d never once mentioned talking to Amie about it. They just assumed he’d accept and she would pack up and follow him without a murmur. As an American owned company, their corporate expectations assumed all employees were willing and eager to climb the corporate ladder as far and as fast as they could. The job came first and last and family fitted in as and when convenient.
“Did they even suggest you talk it over with your family first?” asked Amie at last. The one question Jonathon didn’t want to hear.
“Well, no, they just assumed…”
“I bet it never entered their heads at all. I suppose their wives would just pack up without a second thought and follow their husbands into the jaws of hell, but then they’re all an older generation. ‘Where I go, you, my wife, will go too.’” Amie swigged the rest of her wine and held out her glass for more. A well-trained waiter materialised out of nowhere, and refilled it to the brim.
“You’re not going to get drunk, are you?” asked Jonathon alarmed.
“I might and I might not,” replied Amie starting on the next glassful. “How did you exp
ect me to react?”
“To be honest I’d no idea. I hoped you’d be as excited as I am. It’s such a wonderful opportunity, not only to do the work I love, but take a big step up the corporate ladder. They’ve offered a really good package, and it’s all found. They provide the house, the car, pay the water and electricity bills, and our petrol, so all we have to buy is food. We’ll be able to save lots and, if we decided to have a family ...”
“In Africa, wouldn’t that be fun?” Amie jumped in. “Lying on the floor in some filthy hospital where no one speaks English.”
“Look, if you feel that way, we don’t have to go.” Jonathon replied. He was bitterly disappointed. He’d rehearsed how he was going to break the news, and had convinced himself, or rather tried to convince himself, Amie would be pleased, excited, and very proud of him. He wanted this promotion really badly, and if he refused, then his future chances of moving further up the ladder were out the window. Hell, if the worst came to the worst, then he would spend the money and fly home every month, or … well he’d work something out. In the meantime, he’d play it cool.
The waiter placed the desserts on the table and walked away. Amie studied the dish in front of her and silently began to eat. She said nothing until she’d almost finished, then she looked up at Jonathon.
“How long do they want you to go for?”
“Uh, it’s a two year contract, and then if I … er, if we liked it,” he added quickly, “we could stay on for two more years. It will take considerable time at least to get the plant built and up and running, and train the locals how to manage it and make repairs.”
“And what happens if you … we … hate it, and the plant’s not ready in two years? Will they let you come home?”
“Um, I’m sure, yes, I guess so.” Jonathon hadn’t the faintest idea. They hadn’t mentioned so many years into the future, but there was absolutely no question in his mind of walking away from a job half-done.
All Amie’s dreams came crashing down around her as she pushed the last bit of her caramel custard around the plate. Now what was she going to do?
The next afternoon, Amie drove across town to commiserate with her mother.
“But of course, you must go!” exclaimed Amie’s mother as she put the kettle on.
“Oh, so you’re on his side, now are you?” snapped Amie.
“It’s not a question of taking sides,” replied Mary Reynolds, “I’m only stating a fact of life. The husband’s career is always the most important. You can’t base a marriage on the wife’s career, what happens when she has babies and has to stay home and look after the children?”
“That’s the way it was in your day, Mother. Things are different now. Women are just as important in the workplace as men.”
“Ah, that’s what you might like to believe, but I promise you, nature doesn’t work that way. I know you don’t believe me now, you’re still young, but soon, very soon, you’ll want babies of your own and you won’t want to go off to work each morning and leave them with some stranger.”
Mary Reynolds filled two mugs with coffee, sugar and milk as she talked, while Amie perched on the edge of the kitchen table and glowered at her. She’d expected her mother, at least, to understand and commiserate with her, but it seemed as if she was quite happy to allow her younger daughter to go off into the deepest, darkest wilds of Africa.
As if reading her mind, her mother continued. “And anyway, Togodo might be in Africa, but I’m sure it’s quite civilised. It’s a Commonwealth country for a start, and things are not as primitive as they were. I’m sure there’ll be lots of shops and hotels and a hospital and schools, too. There might even be a shopping mall!”
“How come you know so much about it?” asked Amie suspiciously.
“My dear, when you lecture brash young teenagers every day, you have to be up on world affairs and know what’s going on, even the names of the latest rap groups. My students are only too willing to think I’m over the hill at my age. Keeping up to date also keeps you young.” Amie’s mother handed her a mug of coffee and sat down. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a bit?”
“Overreacting? How do you expect me to react?” Amie was beginning to wish she’d never come home looking for sympathy; it didn’t look as if there was much on offer.
“My dear, all I’m saying is this is a great opportunity for you both, to see a bit of the world and expand your horizons. Lots of people would jump at the chance. You don’t realise how lucky you are.”
“We can still see the world,” replied Amie stubbornly. “We’ve already been to Spain and to France.”
“That’s not the same thing at all,” said her mother. “For a few weeks, you were just another couple of tourists. No one gets to know a country in that time. It makes me mad when these politicians go on a three-day ‘fact finding mission,’ and they’re only shown what the government officials want them to see.”
“Yes, yes,” said Amie hastily. She had no intention of encouraging her mother once she got onto one of her favourite soap boxes. “But I had it all planned out. I’m happy here, I never expected to well … go too far away …”
“You expected life would be very much the same for you as it has been for your dad and me. Well, it’s not panning out that way, is it? Goodness me, I’d jump at the chance.”
“Then perhaps you and Jonathon should go,” Amie said ungraciously as she stood up to leave.
“Have you decided what to do?” asked her mother.
“I’m still thinking about it.” Amie reached for her coat.
“Try to be more open-minded,” said her mother as they walked towards the front door. “At the very least, it’s only a couple of years out of your life. Beech Avenue will be just the same when you come back, and I’m sure we can cope without you for a while, although we’ll miss you both. And don’t forget we can chat on Skype as often as you like.”
“Yeah, right,” replied Amie, “I bet they’ve not even heard of the Internet over there!”
“Don’t be such a pessimist, darling!”
How uncaring, thought Amie, as she gave her mother a peck on the cheek.
How I wish I was in her shoes, thought Amie’s mother as she waved her daughter goodbye and watched her hop into her mini at the kerb. I thought it was the young who were adventurous and raring to go these days. They never fail to surprise me. But there is no easy way to tell your children you didn’t have the chance or even the courage when you were young to look for exciting opportunities and experiences. Only a few decades ago you allowed life to happen to you and accepted what came along. She wondered what Amie would decide. Would she have the courage to begin a new life in a new country?
As she drove back to the flat Amie was fuming. Didn’t anyone understand how she felt? How could her own mother not understand and commiserate with her? She parked the car under the carport and noticed Jonathon wasn’t home yet. Good, that would give her time to phone Sam.
She unlocked the front door, threw off her coat and looked to see if there were any messages on the answering machine, but there was only one from the dry cleaners to tell her Jonathon’s suit was ready. She punched in the numbers and sat back on the sofa.
“Hello, this is Dean. Who do you want to speak to?”
“I’d like to speak to your Mummy, please,” said Amie. Usually she would chat to her five-year-old nephew, and ask him what he’d been doing at school, but today she was too upset and hoped he didn’t recognise her voice.
“Mummy, there’s a lady on the phone!” screeched Dean. Amie smiled; at least he called her a lady and not ‘some woman’ like he had last time. Sam must have spoken to him about that.
“Hello?”
“Sam, it’s me,” said Amie.
“Oh, Dean didn’t say…”
“Yes, I know, but I’m too upset right now.”
“What are you upset about? I thought you’d be over the moon! Just give me a couple of years in a hot country, away from all this
traffic, grey skies, rain, and coping with the kids indoors. Think of the fantastic tan you’ll get. I should be so lucky! Working for the Council, Gerry will never be offered a job abroad. When do you go?”
Amie groaned. Obviously, her mother had been on the phone to Sam already and told her the news, and it seemed Sam wasn’t going to understand either.
“So, when do you go?” repeated Sam. “Aren’t you excited?”
“How can I be excited? It means missing all my friends and giving up my job and going somewhere I don’t know a soul!”
“You’ll know Jonathon,” said Sam reasonably, “and you’ll soon get to know people. You’ve never had a problem with that, have you?”
“Well, no,” Amie agreed, “but I never expected …”
“Don’t be such a stick in the mud,” said her elder sister, “take it as an experience, especially before you get tied down like us with a couple of kids. And we can always come out and visit; nowhere is far away these days with all the cheap air flights.”
“Ah, that’s what you’re thinking,” said Amie sarcastically, “free holidays for the family somewhere hot.”
“Sure, but then we only ever get a couple of weeks somewhere warm. Just think, every day will be sunny and warm for you. You lucky thing.”
“I’m still not convinced,”
“Look, got to go, Jade is screaming for her next feed. Just be brave, say yes and go for heaven’s sake. I’ll miss you lots of course, but you can tell me all about it, show me all the photos when you’re home on leave and we can email. You’ll have a ball!” and with that Samantha hung up.
Amie lay back and closed her eyes. No one understands. Why should I be uprooted just when life was predictable and secure and safe and I knew what to expect?
Going to hang her coat up, she noticed the pile of mail inside the front door. Picking up the envelopes, she ripped the first one open. The gas bill, hell, it was a lot higher than the last one. The electricity bill was up too. All the other envelopes contained demands for money. There was the car tax, insurance and a repair bill for the washing machine. It would be nice not to have bills dropping through the letterbox every month.
Amie in Africa Box Set 1 Page 2