She sits, legs crossed, on a large blue plastic chair. Dark blue suede sneakers hide her feet, hugging them snugly. Black bell bottoms are wrapped around her legs, fitting her perfectly, and a pale, beige shirt settles comfortably on her slim figure. She appears to be listening intently to the conversation, her mind is elsewhere. The ball has been put into motion; it is a skill, each person playing the game, the dance, learning the steps as they go. Each new tactic put into play, each smile timed and released for perfection. And she'd much rather be elsewhere, but she is smiling now, pretending to laugh at something someone said. Pretending to enjoy this noise, trying to be something she wasn't meant for.

Functions. Wedding dinners, reunion parties, birthday bashes, New Year celebrations, Christmas, impromptu parties.....

I do not see the point in going to these functions at all these days. Honestly, I don't. I am coerced into going by my parents, and when I arrive, what do I see? I see people gathered at tables, in the patio, by the barbecue pit, most of them pretending. Most of them would much rather be at home, sleeping. Many more are probably thinking about what an idiot the opposite party is, about how they'd love to give them a piece of their mind.

Sure, not everyone's like that, but I've been to enough in my life to tell that many would much rather be anywhere but at that present place.

It's all a game, these days, everything that can be twisted will be twisted. Feelings can be lied about, falsehoods are thrown around in the air casually, jokes and praises you never really meant are tossed easily into the other's ear, deceiving.

Think about it, when was the last time you went to a function full of people you didn't know and said something you truly meant?

At these functions, I don't bother anymore. I am simply there, just there, for my father to introduce as 'my daughter'. If I had a choice, I wouldn't go at all. Why bother, when half the things said are merely for the sake of talking, of filling up those empty gaps? One must learn the steps to the dance. The conversation is very much like a piece of music that is forever changing, its beat, its tempo and its pitch. So as to not get caught out, one must be nimble enough to learn the steps, to fit in, and thus please those around you. Nowadays, every time someone says something, is it not usually to gain another person's favour? Thus, this person has learnt the steps well. Same for a function; those who are well-read will have no problem fitting in, they simply waltz into the room, and set the tone for a conversation.

Find something in common to talk about, and the game begins. It is all a game, and each time one says something, it is a point scored or a point lost; each smile and compliment one dishes out is another tactic, except that our minds don't register it as being a tactic, it is merely 'complimenting' someone. But, of course, it all matters. Later, the one whom you talked to will remember you if you made a good and lasting impression on him, won't he?

Maybe this is me being disillusioned again, but if you think hard enough, don't you feel that this is just a game?

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