Harvesting Acorns by Deirdré Amy Gower Page A

same class.
I went over to introduce myself and knew in a heartbeat that I had found my new
best friend. Of course, I had to be all macho in front of the other boys, but
Grace would have none of that. She was different to all the other girls. Being
in her company demanded that I either be real with her, at all times, or not
bother wasting her time. She was so gentle, so lovely, and so authentic. She
would not tolerate any pretense. She still will not.”
    Grace
giggled, “And he learned quickly. We started out sitting next to each other in
class, helping each other with our homework. He was brilliant with maths, and
biology. I helped him with creative writing, grammar and spelling – it is well
known that boys can’t spell.” She winked at Chloe as she nudged Joel teasingly.
    Chloe
listened as they recounted their meeting and the start and blossoming of their
friendship...

They
had met every afternoon after school, either on the beach or in the park – the
same park where the oak now stood tall and proud. They had a special
friendship, they did not always need to be engaging when in each other’s
company, it was enough just to be in the same space. Grace would sit under an
umbrella on the beach reading a book or drawing while Joel would be exploring
the rock pools or trying to float paper boats. Every now and then he would
sneak up on her with a crab or periwinkle trying to surprise her. Grace would
just give him a look, or take it from him and return it to its rock pool. Rarely
did he get a girlish squeal out of her unless he had really done something,
like pour cold water over her. That, he learned, got a reaction every time. Not
a very pleasant reaction for him, he also learned, but a reaction none-the-less.
It usually ended with him apologising profusely and agreeing to tutor her with
maths every day for a week. But it was worth the extra time he got to spend
with her, so it really was not punishment at all – he just did not let on to
her about that!
    Their
parents got to know each other and so they were allowed to start visiting each
other at home and each had become like part of the other’s family. Within a few
months they were inseparable. They had other friends and groups, both mutual
and separate, but when it came to all the important childhood events, they
rarely were not shared with each other. James went to all of Grace’s violin
recitals, and sat through every minute, even in the beginning when it was torturous
to have to listen to. Grace was always on the grand stand when Joel was
swimming in the school galas. Joel loved the water; he was in his element when
he was swimming, or body boarding at the beach. When Grace’s kitten was sick at
the vet, Joel would go with her every afternoon to sit with her while she
visited it. When Joel was sick in bed with bad flu, Grace would arrive with hot
chocolate and sit in a chair next to his bed and read stories to him. They had
developed such a unique bond. They complimented each other well – Joel’s
adventurous, athletic and wild spirit and Grace’s serene, artistic and free
spirit. They brought perfect balance. Grace found herself being a bit more
daring and pushing her physical limits a bit more when she was with Joel, and
he found himself calming and quietening his
over-active and energetic self when around Grace.
    On
Grace’s birthday, Joel gave her the first model sailing boat he had ever built
from scratch. It was a little roughly put together but Grace treasured it with
all her heart. In return, on his birthday, she painted a huge canvas with a
scene she had witnessed while sitting on the beach. It was sunset and a sailing
boat graced the horizon with a backdrop of pinks and purples and a huge golden
ball of fire. She also played a perfected rendition of Happy Birthday on her
violin as everyone else sang to him.
    It
was late that autumn, when Joel met her on the beach one morning. He
approached her, cupping something in his hands. He teased her,