Party RULES

Casey knew she needed to conquer her fears, but was she really ready to take up her sister’s challenge?

Casey braced herself and walked reluctantly into the party. Her co-worker Tammy had been surprised when she’d accepted the invitation. The truth was, Casey didn’t want to be there, but she’d given her word.

‘Three parties. Three hours. Three new people.’ It had seemed so easy when her sister, Rachel, had set the challenge.

‘I know you,’ Rachel had said. ‘You’ll agree to go, then hide in the kitchen and sneak away after 10 minutes.’

She was right, of course. But here Casey was, fully committed, even if her heart was racing.

‘Hi. I’m Jerry.’ A handsome fair-haired man with a smile approached her. ‘You look a bit lost. Can I get you a drink?’

Yes! Casey wanted to punch the air, but she settled for returning his smile. Only here two minutes and already she could tick ‘one new person’ off her list. ‘Thank you,’ she said with heartfelt sincerity.

When Jerry brought the drink, she thanked him again and waited for him to move on so she could tick off new person two. But he wanted to talk.

‘How do you know Tammy?’ he asked, leaning against the wall.

‘We work together,’ said Casey and then, because he seemed to be inclined to have a full conversation, she asked, ‘What about you?’

‘I’m her neighbour. I live upstairs,’ he said.

‘Oh.’ She nodded and wondered how long they had to converse for it to count. Rachel hadn’t stipulated any rules about that and Casey made a mental note to clarify it with her sister before the next party.

‘If you work with Tammy, you must work in a lab too?’ said Jerry.

‘Medical research.’