White Tulips & Wedding Cake
Page 17
Rosie took Ollie’s hand and dragged him towards the thumping and enthusiastic crowd on the dance floor.
Chapter 43
Saturday, 22 Saturday – 5:37 pm
“Almost all the ice blocks are stored in the van. Ollie, there’s one block left,” said Pahi, as she carried a block into the back of the van.
Ollie was helping Iris and Pahi with a special floral request. The client wanted flowers frozen in big ice-blocks. Iris had used the refrigeration unit to produce these blocks of ice. They were to be transported to the van, for their destination in an art gallery in Chippendale. Pahi was to drive the van to the art gallery, where the art gallery staff were to help Pahi unload the blocks.
Ollie was carrying the last ice block from the store into the back of the van when he noticed a display of red tulips in the shopfront window. Ollie must have been looking for some time because he was snapped to reality by Pahi, “Ollie, the block is starting to melt!”
Ollie looked down and saw water starting to drip onto the gravel. Ollie quickly placed the ice block into the back of the van and closed the van’s back doors.
“All ready to go, Pahi,” said Ollie.
“Thanks Ollie. I’ll drive straight over,” said Pahi with a wave and drove off into the traffic.
Ollie continued to look at the display of red tulips.
“Mum, can I buy some of those red tulips?” asked Ollie.
“Sure, I’ll make up a bouquet. You don’t have to worry about paying,” said Iris, as she walked over to the bucket of tulips and extracted a dozen. “Are they for someone special?”
“Yes,“ answered Ollie.
“There you are,” said Iris, as she handed over the tulips wrapped with red tissue paper and tied with red ribbon.
“Thanks, Mum,” said Ollie. “I’m just going to borrow the bike. I’ll be back before the store closes.”
“No worries, Ollie. And, thank you for helping out with the ice blocks today,” said Iris.
Ollie nodded as he placed the red tulips in the delivery bike box and moved the bike out onto the pavement. He placed the helmet on and started riding to his intended destination.
He rode into Surry Hills and pedalled onto Cleveland Street. He did not have far to ride now. He went into the intended street and looked at the block of units ahead. Ollie felt his chest burst with apprehension but also the early beginnings of happiness. He disembarked from the bike and placed the bike against the brick boundary. Ollie took off his helmet and pressed the button for number six.
“Hello?” said Gregory’s unmistakable voice.
“Hi Gregory, it’s Ollie here,” Ollie said. “I have a special delivery for you.”
“What?! I thought Narciso said he’d stop pestering me,” said Gregory through the intercom. “I’m coming down. There in a second.”
Ollie waited a few moments and saw Gregory appear at the security door, looking slightly grumpy. He opened the security door and stood on the landing.
“But those tulips aren’t white,” said Gregory. “And you’re not wearing your bike-suit.”
And then the realisation hit Gregory. His mood changed to one of hope and tentativeness. Gregory slowly stepped forward from the security door and accepted the red tulips. Then with arms outstretched, Gregory gave Ollie a hug.
And, Ollie hugged back.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Mart B and Duane M for their incredible patience and editorial assistance in whipping this book into shape.
I would also like to thank family and friends who have been supportive of me throughout the writing this book.
A special thank you to the people I have met through Script-in-Hand. Submitting my short plays to Script-in-Hand gave me the confidence to embark on writing this work.
About the Author
Jonathan Solomon is an office worker who was born in Sydney in 1983 and obtained a BA LLB at Macquarie University. In his spare time, Jonathan thinks of new ways to be busy and has an interest in all things theatrical, both on and off stage. He has also written and produced two plays, Office Ink and Out of Bounds.
White Tulips & Wedding Cake is Jonathan Solomon’s first novel.