From: coates@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Tony Coates)
Subject: Gentle application
Organization: Physics Dept. The University of Queensland
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 04:00:33 GMT

The candle flickered in the gentle breeze that wafted through the open
window, carrying with it the sweet scent of the blooming forest
outside.  It was just a simple little timber hut in the forest,
nothing special by itself, and yet in this setting it seemed like the
most glorious place in the world, warm and comforting, cosy in a
wholesome sort of way.

	As Constance looked out of one of the timber-framed windows,
up towards the brilliant blue sky, she was fascinated to see a hot-air
balloon sailing past - had one ever flown before over this lonely
stretch of forest?  She almost wondered whether the occupents were
lost.  Even from the ground, she seemed to be able to see the flame
that swelled this delicate fabric ball, so intense was its glow.

	She looked back towards Nathan, who had been preparing lunch
for them both.  She had wanted to help, but he had steadfastly
refused, saying that this day was for her, to relax and to enjoy, away
from the stresses of her career.  The table looked splendid.  The
crystal glassware and silver cutlery had set the tone from the start,
but now the plates were covered by a rainbow of tantalising colour.
The bright red shell of the lobster, the delicate green of the
lettuce, the glowing orange from among the fruit salad, the deeper red
of the freshly-sliced tomatoes, the gentle brown colouring of the
forest nuts that Nathan had collected while they walked undisturbed
beneath the mighty bowers.

	He beckoned to her to come to join him in this cullinery
celebration of their special friendship.  He took her hand gently
and led her to the table, seating her in a fashion that seemed long
forgotten in the busy world they had left behind for this moment.  He
kissed her fingers, one by one, and then gently kissed her forehead,
before taking his own seat.  As he sat down, and looked at her, and
smiled, she raised her glass to him, so as to toast.  He raised his
glass too, and then realised that he hadn't served any wine yet!
Quickly he darted across the room and returned, sheepishly, with a
bottle of French champagne, Dom Perignon '59, and poured just enough
into Constance's glass to allow her to tantalise her palate.
Constance felt the smooth, mellow taste in her mouth, the bubbles
tickling the back of her throat, and she smiled and giggled a bit.
Then she realised and mentally chastised herself for acting like such
a teenager.  This was so much more than just popcorn and a forgotten
movie at a drive-in.

	Nathan filled their glasses, and returned once more to his
seat, after gently caressing Constance's ears and kissing the top of
her head.  "To you, my sweet", he toasted, "for making me happy just
by be being as you are, who you are, with me for so long and yet
willing to stick around for more.  I could ask no more of a friend, a
woman, the love of my life".  "Oh Nathan", she responded, "I am glad
that you enjoy having me around, but if you will forgive me for being
selfish, it's really just because I enjoy having you around to, to
talk to, to tease, to question, and to give answers, and ... well ...
to just listen to my ramblings.  I so I toast your health too, because
I want to have you around for a *very* long time ...".

	The meal seemed to take ages, not the least because it seemed
that each was so busy looking at the other that little time was spent
on the actual business of chewing.  But eventually, both finished,
almost simultaneously it seemed.  "Nathan, that was wonderful.  You're
such a little treasure in the kitchen!", she teased.  "Not just in the
kitchen ...", he replied, smiling wickedly.  He stood up, walked over
to her chair, and offered his hand to help her rise from the table.
She had scarcely stood up, when he whisked her off her feet and into
his strong arms, and laughed as she caught her breath.  He carried her
across to the window, and they looked out together at the forest that
surrounded them.  "All this, the world and all it's fancies, I give to
you", he whispered.  "That you would give me all the world is indeed
flattering", she replied, "but I don't deserve it, and in any case
there is only one thing - no, person - in the world who I want, my
love".  And she grabbed his head gently and caressed his mouth with
hers ...

[if my last story wasn't a RFA application, this is, albeit in a
 softer vein (to make Lisa's stories look all the hotter .......]

							Tony.
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