Reunion
written by: Ellie Ness
Rogano’s in Glasgow had been loved and frequented by Glaswegians since the 1920s. Most people ate to excess upstairs in their infamous oyster and champagne bar, but for those on a budget, like Maggie, the subterranean restaurant reached by labyrinthine stairs offered a bargain basement glimpse of the past.
Crisp white linen tablecloths, highly polished, gleaming glasses, and silvery Dubarry cutlery welcomed the pre-theatre dinner crowd. Booths accommodating large groups backed onto backlit art deco stained glass windows, an artificial semblance of being somewhere bright despite being underground next to the metro Clockwork Orange.
On the walls were photographs and silhouettes of famous diners harking back to when Rogano’s was in its heyday. Dorothy Parker and other writers’ witty quotes, captioned each picture. Maggie’s absolute favourite was “If you have nothing good to say, come sit by me…” under an image of Hedda Hopper.
The “girls” arrived in dribs and drabs, but the chattery excitement level increased every time someone new arrived at the table. The noise level seemed disproportionate to the size of the group. Ten long-term girlfriends who had done their teacher training together knew all the ups and downs of life, added like a chef’s kiss of flavours at the annual get-togethers. To an outsider, it might have sounded like euphoria.
God, it was so good to kick back with people who remembered you before you were decrepit! Within the group were one widow, two divorcees, two living with serious illnesses, and two whose children had grown up and emigrated to Australia with hardly a backward glance.
Maggie stood up, knocking over a glass of fizz, which smashed onto the tiled floor. A loud cheer went up from the group, “There’s always one!” laughed Jenny as the staff gathered with dustpan, brush, and cloths like magic elves restoring order. Maggie’s face was scarlet, mostly from embarrassment but also from the exertion of bending down to pick up her floral collapsible walking stick. Even a trip to the toilet could be such an effort.
When Maggie returned, the group was a bit more subdued, possibly due to the visible reality of infirmity that had crashed in on the reverie.
“Did I tell you that I bumped into our former lecturer, Mr Black, the other day?” Maggie began. Nine eager pairs of eyes turned to hear which bright young thing he had on his arm now…
Old friends are the best friends, especially when they share a love of gossip.
- Reunion - November 8, 2025
- Doughnuts Had Failed to De-escalate the Situation - July 23, 2025
- Wad Some Pow’r The Giftie Gi’ Us… - March 8, 2025
