Classic Jane

Classic Jane: The Secrets That We Keep

This is not your typical saga of romance or success, despite what you might be inclined to read, so I am telling you this now as so that you are not discouraged later on. You will not find a happy ending around every corner or page turn, so please, do not become disappointed half-way through. This tale is one of reality and life, nothing more and nothing less. People will marry, and people will die. There will be times of grief and mourning, as there will also be times of extreme joyfulness and cheer, so please – do not become discouraged.
We all wear these masks so that we can hide away our truths from the world and this story is here to remove all of those masks. I am here to reveal all of our transgressions, all of those secrets which we are either too afraid to admit to, or too isolated to discuss. This is a truth more bare than any other you are likely to encounter.
But please, don’t be fooled. As I said, this is a story about a life, and as you should be well aware, life is not always rainbows and butterflies. Don’t let the happy moments persuade you to believe that I am lying to you at this very moment and that there will be a happy ending all in all, because there will not be.
At least, not the happy ending that you are looking for.
Please, do not be fooled.
What you are about to embark on it the story of a normal girl, living a normal life, with normal problems.
Please, do not be fooled.



Classic Jane: Long Way Home

“Girls, they wanna have fu-un! Oh ooh, girls jus—.” The peppy chords of the pop music princess of the eighties were abruptly cut off by Jane Avery’s quick to act fist pounding on the snooze button. It was five thirty in the morning, and the sun was yet to rise, as was the sleeping eighteen year old.
Sensing her daughter’s laziness, Beth Avery warily opened Jane’s bedroom door in order to finish Cindy Lauper’s job. “Come on, you’ve gotta get up! You don’t want to miss your flight!”
“Mm, need coffee.” Jane grumbled in reply as she grudgingly placed her bare feet on the clammy wooden floor. She had slept with her window open, as she did every night, giving the summer’s air the perfect opportunity to engulf the quarters with the Southern humidity typical of the suburban Virginia town. As any native of the Southeast would know, the temperatures one might encounter in Norfolk, Virginia were extremely and utterly unpleasant to all whom encounter them, and that summer was no exception.
“It’s in the kitchen, now hurry up! Scoot!”
Jane did as instructed, yet remembered to slow down and dawdle about her room one last time.
The shelves were bejewelled with musical plaques and awards, while the wall displayed images of her friends and loved ones over the years. The room was going to be bare without Jane’s vivacious and buoyant personality resonating through the walls, but times changed, and life moved forward.
After taming the beast atop her espresso hued mane, Jane clothed herself in jeans and a crisp collard shirt in an attempt to make a good first impression upon her arrival. “I’m really gonna do this.” Jane muttered to herself as she took one last glance in her mirror. Staring back at her was a little girl, delicately playing “Mary Had A Little Lamb” on her violin, flashing a dazzling toothless grin upon her completion. Where had the time gone? All of a sudden, that little girl had grown up and though she still had her violin, things had changed. All teeth were present, and the handmade floral dress was replaced with an eloquent and mature wardrobe filled with class and grace.
It was time; time to leave her home and break out on her own, but was she really ready? Despite her doubts, Jane knew it didn’t matter whether or not she was prepared. Her mother was waiting in the car in the driveway and wouldn’t stand a word of changing her mind. It was now or never.
“Mom, are you sure this is a good idea? I could always stay here and go to Shenandoah’s Conservatory.” Jane implored one final time as she packed her duffel bag in the trunk of their Volvo.
“I’m not letting you miss out on this experience because you’re scared. It’s not happening. No way young lady!”
“But what if I can’t keep up? What if they’ve made a huge clerical error in admitting me but it was too late to tell me the truth? What if I’m not good?” Jane was fighting an inner battle, that no matter what up lifting and inspirational words her mother dealt her, it wouldn’t change. She could fight it and fight it until the end of the world, but nothing was going to change. She was going.
Mrs. Avery continued to utter cherished words of comfort and wisdom to her daughter for the duration of their drive to the Norfolk International Airport, and when they finally arrived, she felt like she had made a break through. “So, kid, you ready for this?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
“You have your passport and tickets? How about your violin? You didn’t forget that, did you?”
Jane earnestly replied, “I think I have everything. Thanks mom.”
In an attempt to deflect her tears, Beth embraced her daughter one final time as a proclamation was made over the intercom system.
“Attention all Delta passengers. Attention all Delta passengers. We will begin boarding flight 228 to London with section A. That’s section A. Thank you for flying with us today!”
“Be safe sweetheart!”
Jane said her final goodbyes to her mother and headed towards the ever intimidating gate. It seemed as if the closer she ventured towards the opening, the more the butterflies soared throughout her churning stomach. That one entrance held her future, now all she had to do was walk through it and she would be home free. With all of her vigour and might, Jane placed one hand on her violin case lying steadily on her shoulder, and the other on her messenger bag and slowly moved her feet one after the other.


(other segmesnts being edited)