None of them had togs or shorts or sundresses. They dressed in their boots and polyester frocks. It was going to be an unseasonably hot spring day, the type that comes out of the blue. None of them had sun hats. Someone might have sunblock. Was it really possible to get sunburnt on a day like today? Dell looked outside. Even though it was hot, it was a bit overcast. Would the picnic even be on? Again, it didn’t really matter if no one was there, they were happy by themselves. Possibly happier. They each packed a backpack. Peggy and Greta packed another cardigan, a wallet and their keys. As they walked down the street they could feel their make-up moving. It was so thick and so matte. Whenever they had photos taken they looked like ghosts. Someone told them it was because of the reflectors in the foundation they used. Dell’s fringe kept falling in her face and she was carrying the quiche so she had to blow her hair up and out of her eyes. They made it to the bus stop in good time, and the bus came on time, and they got on and Peggy and Greta sat on one seat and Dell and the quiche sat on another seat.

They weren’t quite sure which stop to get off at, but Dell had the flier and it said the road the picnic would be on. They got off the bus and there was a picnic area on the grass next to the beach. There were picnic tables under a large pine. Several people from the meetings were already there.

‘It’s you!’ three of the bowling people said at once.

‘Yup,’ they said together. As soon as they saw the others they wondered if maybe it had been a mistake.

‘We made a quiche.’

‘Nice.’