There was only one letter in the slightly rusted mailbox. Laura read the return address as she walked back toward the house. Jenkins she thought. I haven't seen Susan in three years, I think mom and dad still keep in touch with her parents.

Susan used to be Laura's friend, but they had drifted apart once they began high school. Laura had gone to a private school and Susan had gone to the local public school. She only lived a few blocks away, but they had each gone their separate ways and didn't really talk to each other anymore. That was why Laura was somewhat surprised when she opened the envelope and read the invitation to a welcome back party Susan was giving for her return from Europe. This should be interesting she thought remembering the good times they had had as friends.

The party was a week away and the more she thought about it the more eager she began to feel. She called Susan's house, but only the housekeeper who barely spoke English was there. Through patient communication she got the housekeeper to write down her last name and that she would come to the party.

She went out and bought a new outfit and wished she could show it to her parents, but they were away visiting family. This was the first time they had left her alone in the house. She still remembered her mother's final words, "now don't do anything that would upset us." She knew she wouldn't and she liked this new independence. It gave her of feeling of controlling her life. She liked being treated as a grownup and was glad that her innocent little girl days were finally over.

Finally, the evening of the party arrived and she was more excited than she thought. She wondered how Susan had changed and looked forward to catching up and sharing old memories. It was a warm night in the suburban neighborhood, so she decided to walk the few blocks. Even though warm, there was a certain strangeness in the air. It was almost as if a storm or some sort of disturbance was building even though there were few clouds in the sky. Something was in the air, almost imperceptible, but there.

Walking up the driveway and passing the cars parked there, thoughts of the building tension in the air faded. Looks like a big party she mused. She also noticed that all of the cars were relatively new and large. Susan must be moving in a wealthy crowd she thought.

She was still thinking of the past as she rang the bell. The door was answered by Susan's mother. She appeared somewhat confused and the normal greeting seemed to die on her lips. Laura realized she needed to speak.

"Hello Mrs. Jenkins."

"Ah, hello... Laura," she said sounding somewhat unsure. She appeared to be looking past Laura, as if she expected someone to be with her.

"This is the night of the party?" Laura asked.

Susan's mother had not moved from the open door

. "Ah, yes...it is, um...won't you come in. Where are your parents?"

"They're away, but they wouldn't want to come to Susan's..."

She stopped short. From what she could see, everyone in the room was her parent's age. She turned toward Susan's mother.

"Is Susan here?"

"No, Susan is visiting friends from school at the shore. The party is for us and the invitation was for your parents. There seems be some confusion here. But, come in anyway, have something to eat and stay for awhile."

Realizing the situation, Laura was embarrassed and unsure of what to do or say. She knew that Susan's mother was just being polite and that it was not a party she should be at. But, she had been raised well and felt it would be rude to just leave.

"Okay, thank you, but only for a little while."

She made her way across the room toward the table of food and was painfully aware that everyone was much older than she was. She saw people glancing at her as she passed, she even sensed that some of the conversations stopped as they looked at her. She also wished she hadn't bought the new outfit, the skirt was too short for this party. Not wanting to show that she was self-conscious, she went to the table with fancy little plates dressed with curly parsley and picked up two finger sandwiches. She turned to look at the room and saw that most people were talking in small groups, drinking and eating as they talked. One man was standing by himself looking around. She recognized his look as one she herself had had once at the first party she had attended at her new school. She hadn't known anyone and wished someone would talk to her. She remembered how eventually people did talk to her and she ended up having a great time. That will probably happen to him she thought.

She began to focus on the others in the room. From their postures and quiet conversations, it seemed that they were caring, polite people and she began to feel a bit more comfortable. She turned to get another sandwich and there he was next to her, the man she had seen earlier across the room. He was looking down at the food and even though he was next to her, he didn't seem like he was going to say anything. Once again she sensed that loneliness in him that she had felt at that other party. Maybe, I should say something to him she thought. Maybe, if people saw him talking to someone, somebody else would join in and eventually he'd end up like I did at the other party.

"The food is very good," she said.

The minute the words came out she felt stupid. What a dumb thing to say .

"I was hoping it would be, I felt a bit uncomfortable as I'm new in the neighborhood," he said in a calm but somewhat timid voice.

His timidity intrigued her and his calmness relaxed her, but he was her parent's age and to her just another adult. Then for some reason, there seemed to be a moment of awkward silence between them, as if they were at the party together and she somehow felt obliged to keep the conversation going. She was almost relieved when he spoke.

"Are you here with your parents?" he said with that same unsuredness in his voice.

"No, I'm here alone, it's a long story and actually, I was just about to leave."

As she said this she looked up and her eyes locked with his. She saw something sparkle in his eyes, something strange, something that sent a slight shiver through her. She immediately looked away.

"I know, I'm going to leave soon too, as I said I'm new here and don't really know anyone."

"Maybe, you'll meet some people here."

"Probably not, nothing ever happens in my life unless I make it happen and I don't feel that comfortable here," he said.

"Well, you never know. Listen, it's been nice talking to you, but I think I'd better get going. Hey, have a good time and I'm sure you'll meet someone soon," she said as she lightly touched his elbow and turned and began to move toward the door.

"Bye, maybe I'll see you again," she heard him say as she walked away.

She didn't think about him as she walked down the driveway. A light rain had started. Again, she began thinking about Susan and how their friendship had dwindled away. She shivered as she walked down the empty suburban street. It had gotten colder and the light drizzle suddenly began to turn into a more powerful downpour. The few blocks that she had to walk would seem like miles in this weather she thought.

The car's lights cut through the storm as it pulled up alongside of her.

CHAPTER TWO