Romance 1998

Romance 1998

The story is published in 1992, and consists of a conversation between two sisters situated in the cafeteria in Terminal Three, Heathrow airport. The two sisters are both large-boned with broad sensible faces, and are described as clever, hard-working girls who pursue their chances with skill. They seem to like spending time together, although there are some difficulties and differences between them.

Sybil is the younger of the two, twenty-two of age, and by far the most attention-seeking one. She has got short yellow hair and wears dramatic make-up, as well as clothes which draw attention to her. She lives in London where she is currently “temping”, which she prefers to a regular job.

She plans marrying a guy called Oliver who doesn’t seem to be the perfect husband, considering the fact that it has only been one week since he last cheated on her. Sybil even admits to partly marrying him for his money and to having been unfaithful to him as well.

Although she seems like a woman who likes her freedom and independency, she still likes the thought of Oliver taking financially care of her and her being a good wife to him. While talking to her sister, she starts talking about taking an AIDS test. I personally find it a bit strange that she finds taking an AIDS test so committing. I guess it is because it enables them to start again with new sheet, that they someway prove to one another that they are clean. The certificate certainly means a lot to Sybil, that much is for sure. While she talks about it she actually forgets the people around her, her so called “audience”, and her face gets soft and dreamy, full of love. To her this is a great commitment, even greater than an engagement ring.

But after having talked of AIDS, her “audience” has stopped listening. So she raises her voice, craving for attention and starts talking about how she doesn’t like condoms. When someone gets a bit offended and says some words of rebuke, the sisters...