Deity

Jason looks at the table one more time, the setting is perfect, the candles make for the perfect mood and the food is on schedule. However one nagging thought persists, the wine. He still isn’t sure... and yet he knows it has to be wine, the occasion demands it. But which one; white, sparkling, red and then there’s cabernet, merlot, chardonnay, why does anyone ever bother with the stuff. He doesn’t know who to ask either, his parents don’t touch it nor does Yachi and all his mates drink is beer and the odd whiskey.

  He looks casual but still good. His shirt shows off his arms while flattening out his stomach. A hint of cologne without overdoing it. He even managed to get rid of his sisters for the night; the best twenty dollars he’d spent for a while.

  He had talked to Billy earlier too, he is good at this sort of stuff but it hadn’t really helped. If there was a magic formula or trade secret he didn’t share it.

  ‘Be yourself, the girl likes you so just relax and let things happen. Don’t try to force it or use some special line or trick. Dinner, some candles, wine, it’s gonna work fine.'

  The doorbell rings.

  Jason takes a deep breath as he reaches for the handle. He stands dumbstruck for what seems like hours- surely it is only moments- before inviting Peta in. Come on, tell her how great she looks, he thinks

  ‘Wow, you look fantastic’

  She absolutely beams in response, her smile making her look cuter still. How can he impress her half as much as she had already impressed him. Of course he can he thinks, nay, dictates to himself. He has planned the perfect evening; a beautiful setting, good food, even better company, it is going to be fine. He forces himself to think. He had even managed to reduce the evening's options to only two bottles of wine. The wine!

  ‘Peta, would you like a glass of wine?’

  ‘Yes, please’

  ‘I’ll be back in a moment’ and he moves into the kitchen.

  Let the lady make the final choice- OK don’t dawdle in here, all the action’s out there. So with a quick check of his elaborate set-up he grabs the two bottles and returns to the dining room.

  She is waiting in the living room, looking as spectacular as he recalled. She flashes a smile as he approaches. It is all going smoothly.

  ‘OK, now madam to accompany your meal this evening we have a choice of two of the finest wines this country has ever produced, at least that’s what the salesman told me’

  ‘Oh, my. Maybe we should try both then?’

  ‘What a brilliant idea. Wish I thought of it myself. Well let’s start with a splash of the Merlot and then we can move onto the Sauvignon Blanc later’

  He pours Peta a glass and then one for himself.

  A clink of glasses and he takes a sip…Mmm, not so bad. Peta didn’t seem to mind it either.

  ‘What do you think’ he ventures.

  ‘It’s nice’

  ‘Yeah, maybe wine isn’t so bad after all. I didn’t know what to get and no-one I knew was much help-’

  ‘You mean you don’t even like wine?’

  ‘Umm, well, I hadn’t really tried it much. This one’s pretty good’

  ‘Why did you buy it?’

  Jason pauses for some time before responding.

  ‘Ahh, let’s sit down’

  ‘Ok, but why did you pick wine for tonight if you don’t like it?’ she insists as they move towards the dining area. The apartment is open-planned but from where they stand the kitchen walls obscure the dining area. As they move forward Jason’s spread comes into view. The table is set banquet style, with limes, herbs, salad, chillis, flatbread and candles while the view from the balcony overlooks the lights of the city below.

  ‘An occasion like this calls for wine’ Jason says

  ‘Jason, this is fantastic. You didn’t have to go to this trouble.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that, take a seat’ and he moves a seat from the table. So they sit, sipping wine, looking over the city. They talk about a hundred different things; trying to make sense of the guardians and the new realm. Before moving onto their families – the quirks of those dearest to them, the frustration of younger siblings friends and embarrassing moments from their childhoods. Then Jason brings out the hot fillings; vermicelli, beef, chicken. And they eat, making the spring rolls, drinking the wine and enjoying the evening.