HELP - I'M a STUDENT!

"I'm struggling Marty - can you come round?" asked Lavinia of her friend.

"Yeah, sure baby! Just have one or two things to see to first - expect me around 11 o'clock" replied Marty in his usual jocular fashion.

Marty was a close student friend of Lavinias. They had arrived at Durham the same year and just 'clicked'! Marty did have a girlfriend, but she was often away on courses in connection with her job, and as Marty always missed her when she was away, he was glad of Lavinia's company and, unlike some, there was nothing sexual or demanding in this relationship - it was purely two student friends who often 'swotted' together.

After all, Belinda (Marty's girlfriend) was a friend of Lavinias too - in fact Lavinia had introduced them to each other at a party.

Lavinia put the 'phone down, relieved that Marty could come round to help and he was such a good listener too.

Lately, Lavinia (who was studying the Arts) was finding everything in this second year so 'bloody hard' and she hade mentioned this to Belinda a few times.

Lavinia was only 19, but lately she felt much older, only wished though she had the wisdom of an older person! She came from a very loving family, so no problems or lack of support there, but she did miss her home in Bournemouth, and although she had made several good friends at University - that was the problem - they were fellow students, and she was sick of University!

It had taken her much longer to settle at Durham than she had expected, and once Belinda and Marty had got together, she had started to feel trapped.

Before too long dear ole Marty arrived and after cofee she told him how she was feeling. She had expected Marty to be his usual compassionate self, but she sensed something had happened, as he didn't really seem to her to be his usual self.

"Are you all right, Marty?" Lavinia asked concerned about him.

"Not sure!" Marty replied. "I've had a shock! I think Belinda's cheating on me!"

Lavinia looked at him surprised, as she couldn't quite believe it of Belinda, and waited for Marty to say more.

"Thing is Lavinia, I had someone follow Belinda and now I wish I hadn't done it!" said Marty with a heavy heart.

Lavinia managed to get the whole story out of him eventually, plying him with mugs of coffee and biscuits (students staple diet!). Apparently Belinda had been away so much of late and when they were together he said she seemed to be 'distant' and he had assumed she was having an affair!

After some time (they had been chatting for ages) Marty decided he would confront Belinda with his 'findings', but the thought of it made him so nervous, he told Lavinia.

"Oh, Marty!" said Lavinia, chuckling to herself. "You do make me laugh! Belinda isn't having an affair at all!

"What do you mean? How would you know?" answered Marty, completely dumbfounded.

Lavinia explained to Marty that Belinda had confided in her recently that she wanted to arrange something special for Marty's upcoming 21st birthday, and that, if she was meeting anyone, it was only to do with that probably.

Marty still looking somewhat shocked, but interested, suddenly felt a 'heel' for what he had done, and not trusting Belinda, so instead of Marty being there to cheer Lavinia up, it turned out to be Lavinia's job to cheer Marty up!!

After Marty had gone, Lavinia had another chuckle to herself. Sure, she had been feeling depressed and morbid of late, but her two dearest friends' dilemma somehow made her problems seem so small, after all she knew how much Marty and Belinda loved each other, and how they often included her in their lives, so on reflection she had to agree that she was really very lucky to have them in her life, and with those thoughts on her mind, she set about returning to her studies slightly relieved, actually, that she didn't have a boyfriend herself right now and all the problems that can accompany that!

Incidentally, Lavinia left Durham a year later with such good grades and a really promising future beckoning, that she often looked back on those days and wondered what all the fuss was about!!

A few months down the road she was to be Belinda's bridesmaid at her and Marty's wedding, so once again the three of them were reunited.

Those friendships made at Durham in the 80's were to last for many, many years.

How often in times of great agony and hardship, good prevails?