I look up, snapping out of my daze.
‘Isn’t Lisa already doing the communication?’ Jeff leaps in. Nora is next to him, giving me a look. A glare. One that says,Don’t you agree to do this, Lisa. Do. Not. Dare.
‘Weallhave to pull our weight, Jeff,’ Denise says sweetly, though I can’t help but notice that since she created the new role of ‘PTA CEO’ – and promoted herself into it – the only thing she actually does is come up with more jobs for the rest of us to run around fulfilling. ‘I was going to ask Lisa to phone the council about the alcohol licence, but maybe you could do that?’ she adds.
Jeff starts sucking an invisible lemon. ‘Sounds right up my street, Denise.’
‘Excellent. So, Lisa, that just leaves the posters, the e-flyer, touching base with the school secretary, sourcing raffle prizes, speaking to the class representatives, updating the PTA Facebook page and Twitter. Are you around on the night itself too? We need someone to clean the toilets beforehand.’
I realise I have been my own worst enemy.
The first to raise my hand. To offer my help. I am one of life’s doers, someone who prides themselves on being capable, indispensable and absolutely not afraid of hard work. I’ve always told myself that the school needs people like me.
But this is not indispensability.
This is being a mug.
Well, enough is enough.
‘The thing is, Denise. I’ve been trying to find a moment to tell you but . . . I’mout.’
I didn’t intend to sound like Deborah Meaden but, once the words are out of my mouth, I realise I quite like it.
Her beautiful eyebrows twitch in consternation.
‘What do you mean? The Gin Night is the first big event of the PTA season. Who else is going to be able to design the posters?’
‘I did them on a free appand it’s really easy to pick up. I can show you how if you like, Denise?’
From the look on her face, she does not like.
‘To be honest, it’s not just the Gin Night,’ I continue. ‘I didn’t appreciate when I got involved in this PTA just how demanding it would be. I’ve got a lot going on at the moment and I’m afraid, once this term is over, I’m not going to be joining you next year. I’ll help you with the tickets for this event, but I’m afraid it will be my last.’
I’m not saying that the last few months have made me realise that I’d much rather spend the rare pockets of free time I have enjoying pleasures of the flesh with a super-hot man (though, come to think of it,I would).But it has made me realise just how easy it is for women like me to put themselves last. And while it’s one thing making sacrifices for my kids, this is quite another.
I’ve done my bit. Now it’s someone else’s turn.
Denise clearly does not see it this way.
‘Well, this isfarfrom ideal, I must say.’ From her clipped tone, you’d think I’d just cleared out the PTA bank account and run off to Mexico. ‘Let’s hope everyone doesn’t take the same attitude. After all, itisour children who are going to benefit. Still, if you feel happier sitting around and leaving the rest of us to do everything . . . that’sfine.’
I’ll admit it. Her speech nearly breaks me. Nearly.
‘Look, I’m sorry—’
‘You don’t need to be, Lisa,’ Jeff interjects.
‘Can I make an observation?’ Nora says. ‘Look, I haven’t been a member of this group for a long time. But it strikes me that what the PTA really needs ismorepeople doingless. There’s too much of a burden on too few people.’
There is an explosion of agreement, though nobody says out loud that the way Denise has managed things – by running asmall group of put-upon individuals into the ground – has done absolutely nothing to help recruitment.
‘Well, I don’t see how leaving helps!’ she protests, her voice rising a pitch. It’s a fair point, but I know I’ll regret it if I let her sway me.
So I stick to my guns until the end of the meeting, when I see everyone out. I even offer to carry my crate of Bounce-a-thon socks out to the boot of Denise’s Range Rover Sport, though she declines, snatches it from me and staggers along the path instead.
Afterwards, Nora and Jeff stay for a glass of wine so we can deconstruct the evening’s events.
‘I hope you can live with yourself after leaving us to the mercy of Denise and her raffle tickets,’ Jeff teases.
