Down With The Queen

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

“I can’t go today. My mum is forcing me to have dinner with some new addition to her endless list of gossip girls,” Jennifer said with disdain, rolling her eyes at the screen of her purple Macbook, where her friends were staring back at her through a video call. They were supposed to be making plans and picking outfits for a trip to a nearby private pool at Kontri Klub, the members-only country club her family belonged to. It was an establishment that was owned by Pearl’s father Chen Wei, who migrated from China to the States as a young bachelor looking to carve a niche for himself in a strange land. The girls particularly liked summer, because the Kountri Klub always had new faces to meet and hangout with when they got tired of boring old Knox. The only other interesting people were the private school students at St. Luke’s, and they could get a bit snobby as a lot of them weren’t from Knox. Most of the students over at St. Luke’s came from wealthy families seeking a suitable institution to help their spoilt teenagers turn over a new leaf. More often than not, these teenagers learnt to break more rules and found ways to hide their mischievousness and wild antics, so much so that the priest-in-charge had to be changed every other month, for the fear that one of them might die from prolonged and unchecked high blood pressure.

“Ugh, I hate when my mum makes me eat dinner with her book club. She always says it’s ‘a learning experience and a way to build up connections and role models for myself’, like I really want to connect with a bunch of women having a mid-life crisis,” Mars injected, curving her fingers into air quotes when she mentioned her mother’s quote about learning and connections. Her mother Clarissa was always going on about bettering herself and building a strong foundation for a successful future, but all Mars wanted to do was enjoy life.

“Boy am I glad my father never pays attention to me,” Raven said with a sarcastic tone that made Jennifer shift with pity, because she could relate in a way.

“Sorry Rave, but I actually wish my parents would leave me alone. They like, want to know everything I do. I can’t even breathe in peace.” Mars replied, fiddling with her pillow.

Jennifer did not feel like entertaining any argument that might be brewing soon, so she decided to change the subject.

“So, what do you guys think I should wear for dinner? Because honestly, I couldn’t be more bothered. I would wear sweats, but I’m not Diggy Thompson,” she said, getting up and carrying her laptop into her walk-in closet so that the girls could see her clothes and make choices for her. Being her was so exhausting, and she was grateful she had friends whom she could rely on to do some work for her without screwing it up.

“Eww. Diggy Thompson should have been picked up by the fashion police a long time ago. Such a sad sight to see every day,” said Pearl in a solemn manner that was intended to be mocking.

“Yeah, I feel sorry for his mirror,” Raven added.

“Look who’s talking,” said Jennifer, “Your feet are always crying from those combat boots you keep wearing like you enrolled in a military camp.”

“Hey! I have style, and you know that,” Raven said, feigning hurt as Jennifer tried to stifle a laugh. Jennifer watched her take a swig from a bottle of water that lay beside her on the bed, and Jennifer was reminded that she had to be downstairs for dinner in less than thirty minutes.

“Okay guys, focus!” she clapped her hands for attention.

“Um, you could just wear that nude dress with the sequined frills and some wedges,” Pearl suggested, shrugging. She wasn’t exactly sure Jennifer would like her suggestion, but a pitch was a pitch.

“I like that option, but I don’t think the wedges are a good idea,” Mars said.

“You could just go in a bikini you know,” Raven said with a wide grin.

“I wish I could throw a pillow in your face right now,” Jennifer chuckled.

“How about mules? You could pair them with those pink mules you haven’t worn since you got them,” Pearl said, and to her surprise, the others concurred.

“Yeah, it does match the dress,” Raven added.

“Good idea!” was all Mars said, happy that the decision making did not take as long as it usually did.

“Thanks guys, I owe you one,” Jennifer said appreciatively. She didn’t know what she would do without them.

“You always owe us,” Raven rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. Byeeee!” Jennifer said and clicked the exit button.

“And now, to get ready,” She said and threw off her bathrobe, and two seconds later she heard “Turn off your computer would you?!” Mars yelled from the screen. Apparently, she hadn’t ended the video call.

“Get out you perverts!”

“I’m quite enjoying the...”

And with that Jennifer quickly ended the call, giggling at her mistake.

She was almost done getting ready when her mother knocked on the door and called for her.

“I’ll be down in a minute!”

Jennifer really hoped the dinner wouldn’t take long, as she had other things she’d rather be doing than sit and be just another trophy for her parents to show off.

When she came downstairs, the dining and sitting room had been subtly decorated, so it all looked very fancy. There was a mini feast at the table which made Jennifer’s stomach growl with longing. Her mother always outdid herself when she was hosting guests. That was one thing Jennifer liked about her-the effort she put in to show people that she wasn’t just another wealthy woman, she was a wealthy woman with style and much finesse.

She went over to where her mother stood giving last minute instructions to Yvette, their housekeeper. Her mother turned to smile at her when she was done with Yvette and complimented her, “You look splendid as always dear.”

Jennifer nodded with a smile in response to her mother’s compliment. She had started to wonder where her father was when he came skipping down the stairs. At the same time, the doorbell rang and her mother went to get the door, and at the door was someone who she never thought she would see so soon.

It was Vi.