A tale of coincidences

We were out at a music festival today with the reptiles. We had all the usual gear with us, including the infamous "blue bag" which contains all our paperwork, hi-viz jackets, clean-up and first aid kits, antibac, etc. The actual hold-all was bought at a local charity shop, and bears the crest of one of the local schools on one end panel.

During the afternoon, three girls aged 10-11 were having a fond encounter with my lizards when one of them glanced down and saw the bag under the table, printed end visible. "Where did you get that bag?" "It's from one of our local schools, but we bought it in a charity shop". "I think it's Langley" "It could well be, that's not far from us". "I'm starting there in September - I've just got my uniform."

A couple of hours later, the same girls were back, continuing their blossoming friendship with Bruce (bearded dragon) and Slinky (Berber skink), when a woman of my age came over. She didn't want to touch or hold the animals, but was interested in them, and was very impressed with the girls' bravery.

I can't remember exactly why, but the woman mentioned that she teaches at Langley. I told her that one of the girls was starting there next term, and she replied "That would be Langley Girls; I teach at Langley Boys".

A small bell rang at the back of my mind; I had heard that one of my school friends was teaching at Langley Boys a good ten years back. So I asked "One of my friends used to teach there, but I can't remember her married name. Do you know J**e F***g****e?"

"Yes, I know her very well; I was at school with her. How do you know her?" 

"I was at school with her as well!"

At which point we exchanged maiden names and remembered each other!

So if it hadn't been for the blue bag, and the three young girls, I would .... well, I would have met, but not been aware I had met .... Shirley, who I last saw when she changed to another school in 1974!