Chapter 1
Friends. Well yes, they were, whist coming
from diametrically opposed families. Jennifer from an affluent family living on
the outskirts of Ramada. Jane entrenched in her working class roots, her home, a
squalid apartment in the downtown project. What probably cemented and
maintained the bond between them was the kind and generous nature of Jennifer.
Jennifer never judged Jane in any way. Jane on the other hand was outwardly
sweet as pie but had a deep and troublesome engrained jealousy of her friend
Jennifer, unfounded really, just based on the privilege Jennifer had been born
into.
Through their school and college days Jane struggled to keep up with Jennifer, wanting to do something, anything to proof her worth. Unfortunately this rarely happened. Jennifer was blonde and pretty. She could eat anything she wanted and never gained a pound and excelled in all academic subjects and sports. Jane was dark haired and suffered through adolescence with acne: it was always Jennifer that the boys congregated around. As hard as she tried, she was always just one step behind her friend Jennifer both academically and in sports. Jennifer, with such a sweet and kindly nature, never gloated or belittled her friend. Quite the opposite, she always encouraged her friend Jane, making little of her own successes.
Through their school and college days Jane struggled to keep up with Jennifer, wanting to do something, anything to proof her worth. Unfortunately this rarely happened. Jennifer was blonde and pretty. She could eat anything she wanted and never gained a pound and excelled in all academic subjects and sports. Jane was dark haired and suffered through adolescence with acne: it was always Jennifer that the boys congregated around. As hard as she tried, she was always just one step behind her friend Jennifer both academically and in sports. Jennifer, with such a sweet and kindly nature, never gloated or belittled her friend. Quite the opposite, she always encouraged her friend Jane, making little of her own successes.
When graduation from college came, Jane,
who had excelled in two particular subjects, mathematics and economics,
received the year prize for her efforts little knowing that Jennifer had
forgone the accolade for her friend knowing how much it would mean to her.
Jennifer received other awards and was so pleased seeing her friend joining her
on the podium to receive her scroll.
With both young ladies beginning their
careers Jane never returned to her humble beginnings were as Jennifer could not
wait to return to her loving family. Like many friends after college, Jennifer and Jane kept in touch initially but within two years it was only birthdays when they communicated.
