Page 1 of The Greek Café

ONE

‘Oh, Erin, that’s rubbish.’

I’m in our local pub with my friend Mel and nursing a gin and tonic.

‘I know.’ I sigh as I sip my drink.

I have learned that I am soon to be made redundant from the leisure centre I’ve worked at since leaving school and I feel as if a rug has been pulled from under my feet.

‘So what will you do next?’ Mel asks.

‘I really have no idea. I enjoy teaching aerobics, especially to the older ladies who are a lot of fun,’ I tell her. ‘They tell me they loved getting rid of their bingo wings.’

The thought of not seeing the aerobics ladies again gives me a sudden jolt of sadness. I’ll miss the children too. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a child discard their arm bands and swim confidently in the adult pool.

Mel laughs. ‘I should have come to one of your classes and firmed up my jelly thighs.’

‘Nonsense.’ I roll my eyes.

Mel has a lovely hourglass figure, although she is on a permanent diet.

‘The older ladies seemed to really enjoy my classes. I’m sure the manager invented those complaints,’ I sigh.

‘Complaints?’ Mel frowns. ‘What complaints?’

‘Well, not complaints exactly. Although he did suggest I was known in the pool as GI Jane.’

Mel almost spits her drink out.

‘That’s hilarious. Sorry.’ She pulls a face.

Admittedly there was an incident with a woman needing a check-up after a vigorous session in the pool, but she had failed to mention that she suffered from angina. She was a lovely lady, who, thank goodness, was absolutely fine. And I did remove some punishing squats from the routine after that.

‘You will find another job, try not to worry.’ Mel tries for a reassuring tone. ‘Anyone would be mad not to hire you,’ she says, being as supportive as ever.

‘I hope so.’ I take another sip of my drink. ‘I did think about applying for a job as a lifeguard on a beach in Cornwall, but we’ve had such rubbish summers of late, I don’t know if I fancy that.’

I enjoyed that first job in Cornwall though, after passing my lifeguard exams straight out of school. I spent the most glorious summer attending beach parties, trying surfing for the first time, and generally having fun. In between saving people from tricky situations, of course, when they had swum out further than they thought. It is shocking to think that was probably my one and only adventure, and that was over twenty years ago.

After settling into the leisure centre, I led a safe and predictable life, which probably sounds sad for someone of my age. I certainly seemed to lose my sense of adventure, imagining a cosy life with my (now ex) boyfriend James. But that was not to be.

‘I don’t blame you. The water in England is freezing.’ Mel gives a little shiver.

It’s early June but there have been no real signs of summer, apart from the odd day of warm sunshine, swiftly followed by overcast skies and frequent showers. The in-between weather meant I dressed in layers earlier, and I am removing the cardigan I had thrown over my T-shirt as the pub feels very warm.

South Side Leisure Centre has been struggling with footfall for a while now. Council run, investment in the centre has been non-existent in recent years, and with the closure of the indoor football courts and small gym, redundancies were inevitable. Even so, working there is all I have ever known, and after learning I’m to lose my job, my anxiety levels have gone through the roof.

‘Have you ever thought about working on a cruise ship? My cousin did that for a while,’ Mel suggests as she picks at some cheese and onion crisps. ‘They have a full entertainment programme, featuring aqua aerobics and the like.’

‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ I joke, despite being intrigued by the idea.

‘As if.’ She shakes her head and laughs. ‘I’m just suggesting some possibilities. I wish I would have worked away before the kids were born, seen something of the world,’ she says wistfully. ‘And if you are desperate, there are always jobs for pizza delivery drivers around here.’

‘No thanks.’

Mel has been my best friend since high school and knows me like no one else.

Our lives could not have followed a more different pattern, her married at twenty-three, and a mum at twenty-five and now happily ensconced in a cute new-build house with the love of her life and two children.