24March2025
Ive spent the whole day watching a strange drama unfold over a handful of cheap bracelets that some university lads are handing out like party favours. It began with a snide comment from Poppy, who rolled her eyes at the girls chatter in the common room.
Honestly, what are we supposed to inherit, Mr. Lord? So we all race to give birth to a proper English lady, just like those EastEnders storylines, she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Ruby chimed in, A battered sofa and half of your mothers council flat, obvious, right?
Molly, whos been fed up with the endless remarks about the trinkets, muttered under her breath that she was done hearing them, even when she washed her hands in the bathroom and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, checking that her lipstick and mascara from the first day of term were still intact.
Thanks, she replied politely, even though the comments were getting old.
A sophomore, Ellie, who seemed to be taking a lowerlevel course, asked, Where do you all get these things?
Its all handmade, Dottie answered breezily. A gift from a lad, exclusive. Not precious metals, of course, but bespoke. You wont find anything like it elsewhere.
Ellie protested, Ive already seen two of those today.
Really? You must be mixing them up, Dottie replied, suspecting that Maxs design wasnt born from scratch but lifted from some online template with a few tweaks of his own.
A novice jeweller would struggle to calculate every detail without proper instructions, relying only on instinct.
No, theyre identical, insisted Ruby. Im sure of it. Lenas boyfriend from my class gave her one. Hes not wealthy, but he thought it was clever, and she loves it.
Tell me about this boyfriend. Whats his name? asked Dottie.
Max, of course, said Ruby.
Have you met him?
Not in person, but Lena showed us pictures when she was bragging, the secondyear added, oblivious to Dotties shifting mood.
She unlocked her phone and held up a photo as the lock screen.
This Max?
The girls eyes widened and she fell silent, realising the wind was changing.
Dont be scared, Dottie whispered. I wont do you or Lena any harm. But with Max, the conversation will be different. Can you tell me who else has a bracelet like that? In case this Don Juan has left his mark elsewhere, we should warn the girls that theyre not the only ones.
I dont know her. Ive only seen her flash by the university, maybe from an upper year, but I have no idea which department or group shes in, the girl admitted, shaking her head.
Fine. If you spot anyone else with those bracelets, send them my way for a chat. Im a thirdyear economics student.
I cant promise theyll listen to me, the girl replied, but Ill pass any info along.
She kept her word; by afternoon four more girls from different courses and faculties approached Dottie, as if Max had deliberately matched them so they wouldnt cross paths or learn about each other.
None of them expected that, once gifted with the elaborate jewellery, they would wear it to class, prompting a curious onlooker to notice the matching bracelets.
This looks like a weekly set, muttered firstyear Ivy, Monday its me, Tuesday you, Wednesday her, and so on until the weekend?
If that were the case wed be seven, Marjorie, studying psychology, replied coolly, her composure unfazed. She didnt whine like Ruby or overanalyse like Dottie.
Fourthyear Evelyn had already called her mother, three sisters, two brothers and even a distant aunt, complaining about the male psyche with the same tired lines.
There were no accusations between the girls, simply because none of them knew about the others. They all blamed their limited meeting schedule on Maxs work timetable; they couldnt meet every day with classes and parttime jobs, so once a week in person seemed reasonable.
Everything began at the start of the academic year, when Max transferred to their town for work.
What to do with him now? They all agreed he needed a lesson, but not a physical one.
Dont beat him, but embarrass him, they decided unanimously.
Marjorie, deemed the most unflappable, was chosen as the orchestrator, leading the victim to an unexpected gathering with the other girls.
Since the next day was her day, there was no waiting for the plan to unfold.
***
Hey, mouse, long time no see, Max greeted as he opened the door of the café, as usual.
She hugged him back, then led him inside, pulling him away from the cold.
Inside, at a table by the window, four chosen ones waited, each with a freshly given bracelet laid before them.
Come in, Casanova, tell us how you got this lofty life, Dottie sneered as Max, looking a bit rattled, tried to speak.
Tanya, twirling a steakknife in her hand as if she might fling it, piped up, Im curioushow can you plan to marry all of us when the law only allows one wife? Did you think you were so irresistible that wed all line up for a harem?
Max shrugged. I was serious. Id marry the woman who gives me a son. Thats the most important thing for a manhaving an heir to carry on the family name.
Poppy echoed, What inheritance are we supposed to be racing for, Sir Sultan? So we all scramble to bear children like a Turkish drama?
Ruby added, A smashed sofa and half of your mums council flat, obviously.
She laughed, All right, youre a hero now. Ill upload a video this evening to my socials and the university group wherever it ends up.
Max shouted, You have no right!
I do, Dottie replied. Filming in public places is allowed regardless of your wishes. Your face isnt visible, but Ill make sure everyone knows who you are without any claims on my person.
Marjorie, silent until now, said, You look like a future solicitor. She added, As a psychologist, Id advise you to sort out your cuckoo first, then start dating properly.
Give the boy a child, she muttered. Get an implant and produce a son every year, but stay away from girls with your shortcuts.
In her haste to leave, Tanya knocked over a steaming cup of coffee onto Max, drenching his lap. Oops, sorry, she muttered, embarrassed. The girls considered their revenge complete.
News of Maxs true nature spread quickly through the town of fifty thousand, and his reputation plummeted. He was no longer welcome in their circles unless he moved to another city for work.
Tanya, Marjorie, Evelyn, Ruby and Dottie eventually became good friends, each finding better partners than Max. It turned out for the best that they uncovered the truth and moved on.
It would have been far worse had he kept them on a string for months or years, all because of those unique bracelets. A little common sense might have saved the wouldbe sultan from his own downfall.
Lesson learned: vanity and cheap tricks may draw attention, but honesty and integrity are the only things that keep a reputation intact.
