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Authors: Anita Heiss
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suggested I go out with her Filipino brother-in-law
Renan. I immediately thought of great food every night;
a honeymoon in the Philippines; giving painless birth to
small children; and the stories I'd be able to tell at the next
school reunion. It was all sorted by the time we reached
the top step and she called him immediately from her
mobile. This was the quickest date I'd ever landed.
Gabrielle was married with two children and spent
her days cooking and cleaning. For her, organising my
date with Renan was something to get excited about.
'I love the thought of playing cupid for you, Alice.'
Gabrielle had never said anything, but I'm sure she'd
heard the conversations Peta and I often had as we sat
with my flat door open, doing post-mortems on our
disastrous dates and ex-boyfriends. She'd probably
heard the whole strategic planning meeting two
Saturdays before. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole
Arden Street block had heard. Next time, I thought,
I might ask her in to help. She was obviously a fast
worker, and time was of the essence now that I had a
deadline for meeting Mr Right.
***
Renan arrived promptly at eleven-thirty am the
following Saturday. He was drop-dead-make-youscream-
inside-gorgeous with dark hair, mysterious
eyes and a small, cheeky smile. He looked muscly even
under his loose white shirt. He was slightly shorter
than me, but I didn't care. 'Short men try harder!' were
Peta's words of wisdom once when a George Costanza
look-alike had asked me out and I'd declined.
'What a spunk!' I whispered across the hall to
Gabrielle as Renan walked up the stairs. 'Yeah, I married
the wrong brother,' she joked. 'Seems so – thanks!' I was
grateful for Gabrielle's choice: it left me with this hunk
for lunch. I suddenly appreciated that this was one of
the joys of being single – the excitement of going out
on first dates.
We went for yum cha in Chinatown and even
though I generally refuse to queue for anything, I wasn't
bothered at all by having to wait in line for twentyfive
minutes. The queue moved up the stairs, Renan
constantly one step above me, so the height issue
wasn't even obvious. The date was off to the perfect
start. I could see the wedding already. We could have
a Filipino-inspired menu, and Renan could have some
lifts inserted into his shiny black patent-leather wedding
shoes. Perhaps my bouquet could be orchids or lilies.
What was the native Filipino flower? I'd have to google
it at work later in the week. My mind was ticking over
and I was smiling inside and out. My dream wedding
was planning itself.
We were eventually escorted to a table up the back
of the bustling restaurant, leaving fifty people behind
us still waiting to be seated. He had chosen the most
popular yum cha restaurant in the city. Every single
table was full, and crowded with food; the conversation
chaotic.
The food tasted great but I hardly noticed as we
yarned away easily, comfortably, like soul mates: just
add water and we were an instant couple. I liked the
way Renan took charge and ordered yummy things as
the trolleys trundled back and forth. I had no idea what
was what.
'I think you'll like this dish, Alice,' he'd say as he
motioned to the waiter to put something on the table.
His confidence on the culinary front turned me on a
little. I liked the way he used my name, too.
'I make the best seafood egg rolls this side of Manila or Beijing, Alice. But these aren't bad.' I smiled at the
thought – my kitchen repertoire was quite bland and
very Australian in comparison. Yin and yang. Clearly the
feng shui was working for Renan and I. We were getting
on fantastically. Renan was an Aries, and according
to Aria, a union of a Ms Leo and a Mr Aries had great
marriage potential. He was also incredibly witty, always an
aphrodisiac. I could've jumped him there and then, until
I remembered Peta's rule: no sex on the first date – and
I'm guessing especially not in the middle of the Dragon
Castle restaurant. I had decided before the
Renan. I immediately thought of great food every night;
a honeymoon in the Philippines; giving painless birth to
small children; and the stories I'd be able to tell at the next
school reunion. It was all sorted by the time we reached
the top step and she called him immediately from her
mobile. This was the quickest date I'd ever landed.
Gabrielle was married with two children and spent
her days cooking and cleaning. For her, organising my
date with Renan was something to get excited about.
'I love the thought of playing cupid for you, Alice.'
Gabrielle had never said anything, but I'm sure she'd
heard the conversations Peta and I often had as we sat
with my flat door open, doing post-mortems on our
disastrous dates and ex-boyfriends. She'd probably
heard the whole strategic planning meeting two
Saturdays before. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole
Arden Street block had heard. Next time, I thought,
I might ask her in to help. She was obviously a fast
worker, and time was of the essence now that I had a
deadline for meeting Mr Right.
***
Renan arrived promptly at eleven-thirty am the
following Saturday. He was drop-dead-make-youscream-
inside-gorgeous with dark hair, mysterious
eyes and a small, cheeky smile. He looked muscly even
under his loose white shirt. He was slightly shorter
than me, but I didn't care. 'Short men try harder!' were
Peta's words of wisdom once when a George Costanza
look-alike had asked me out and I'd declined.
'What a spunk!' I whispered across the hall to
Gabrielle as Renan walked up the stairs. 'Yeah, I married
the wrong brother,' she joked. 'Seems so – thanks!' I was
grateful for Gabrielle's choice: it left me with this hunk
for lunch. I suddenly appreciated that this was one of
the joys of being single – the excitement of going out
on first dates.
We went for yum cha in Chinatown and even
though I generally refuse to queue for anything, I wasn't
bothered at all by having to wait in line for twentyfive
minutes. The queue moved up the stairs, Renan
constantly one step above me, so the height issue
wasn't even obvious. The date was off to the perfect
start. I could see the wedding already. We could have
a Filipino-inspired menu, and Renan could have some
lifts inserted into his shiny black patent-leather wedding
shoes. Perhaps my bouquet could be orchids or lilies.
What was the native Filipino flower? I'd have to google
it at work later in the week. My mind was ticking over
and I was smiling inside and out. My dream wedding
was planning itself.
We were eventually escorted to a table up the back
of the bustling restaurant, leaving fifty people behind
us still waiting to be seated. He had chosen the most
popular yum cha restaurant in the city. Every single
table was full, and crowded with food; the conversation
chaotic.
The food tasted great but I hardly noticed as we
yarned away easily, comfortably, like soul mates: just
add water and we were an instant couple. I liked the
way Renan took charge and ordered yummy things as
the trolleys trundled back and forth. I had no idea what
was what.
'I think you'll like this dish, Alice,' he'd say as he
motioned to the waiter to put something on the table.
His confidence on the culinary front turned me on a
little. I liked the way he used my name, too.
'I make the best seafood egg rolls this side of Manila or Beijing, Alice. But these aren't bad.' I smiled at the
thought – my kitchen repertoire was quite bland and
very Australian in comparison. Yin and yang. Clearly the
feng shui was working for Renan and I. We were getting
on fantastically. Renan was an Aries, and according
to Aria, a union of a Ms Leo and a Mr Aries had great
marriage potential. He was also incredibly witty, always an
aphrodisiac. I could've jumped him there and then, until
I remembered Peta's rule: no sex on the first date – and
I'm guessing especially not in the middle of the Dragon
Castle restaurant. I had decided before the
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