Time Will Tell

Intro:

The teenage love between Grace and Alex only lasted one year. Grace returned to Brisbane to live close to her family, but not in the family home. She moved into a small unit in a neighbouring suburb with her best friend from high school. Grace went on a blind date, with a friend of a work colleague from her new place of work back in Brisbane. He rang her the next day to ask Grace out on their first official date.

This date was old-fashioned and picture-perfect, like in a romantic movie. The guy and the girl are dressed in formal attire. He picks her up in a fancy car and drives her to a five-star restaurant where they eat seafood and drink champagne while chatting and looking out over the river lights of the city from their intimate table-for-two. Beverley Joy.

Go to the poem

Story Excerpt from Wilted No More

Grace heard the sports car pull up outside. She gasped at the sight of the bunch of red roses he held as he stood on the step before her.

‘Oh, they’re beautiful!’

She took the bouquet and arranged the flowers in a vase of water before leaving. At the restaurant, the waiter showed them to their table and then took their drink orders.

‘Could we have a bottle of champagne, please?’ he requested.

‘Certainly, sir.’

‘Do you like oysters, Grace?’

‘I’ve never had them, actually.’

‘We’ll have a dozen oysters, thanks.’

The waiter returned promptly with the champagne, pouring two glasses and resting the bottle in an ice bucket next to the table. He raised his glass to Grace.

‘Cheers.’

‘Cheers.’ They tapped their glasses together.

The waiter delivered the oysters and took their orders for their main meals. Before he left, he plucked the champagne bottle from the bucket and refilled their glasses. They chatted well into the night, looking out over the river, the sparkling city lights reflecting off the water.