Gabriel and Ross

Int. A supermarket, at the UHT Milk section. Afternoon.

MONIQUE is crouched to the floor, reading the back to soy milk labels, trying in vain to find a soy milk that doesn't have added sugar. Presently MONIQUE becomes aware of two people talking behind her. The two people have the following conversation.

VOICE 1 (very Australian, bogan voice)
Doesn't this milk last for ages? Like years?

Voice 2. (Also very Australian, but with a weaker, reedy quality.)
Nah, only if you don't open it.

Voice 1.
Aw, so like, if you open it, you have to drink it quick like normal milk.

Voice 2.
Yeah, you gotta drink it within 3 days, like normal milk bro.

Voice 1.
Nah, are you sure? Like I thought it lasted for ages, like months or some'hin'

Voice 2.
Nah, it's like normal if it's open, you gotta keep it in the fridge and drink it.

Voice 1. (To MONIQUE)
Excuse me...

MONIQUE turns around.

Two men in suits stand there. The first voice is that of ROSS. The second is of GABRIEL. ROSS is a stocky man, dark greased back hair. GABRIEL is thinner, with rapidly receding hair, glasses, and shoulders that seem to be constantly drawing up towards with ears, making his neck virtually disappear. The men introduce themselves and shake MONIQUE's hand.

ROSS
You seem to know about this milk, do you have to drink it quick after ya'open it?

MONIQUE
Yes, once you've opened it becomes like normal milk, it's only before you open it that it last for (she checks the used-by date) yeah, ages; this goes off in December next year.

GABRIEL
See I told you.

This sentiment and the comprehension of the facts goes on for a little while.

ROSS
You see the thing is, we sometimes need milk at our place of work – sometimes clients want milk, but most of the time we don't use a lot and it goes off and we have to throw it out.

MONIQUE
You could use powdered milk perhaps?

ROSS
Oh yeah, how does that work?

MONIQUE explain the ins and outs of powdered milk.

MONIQUE
Or (pointing out the 250ml individually packaged milks) you could perhaps just get those.

ROSS
Oh yeah, hey that's great. You know your really smart

GABRIEL
Oh yeah, you're one of the nicest people I've met!!

ROSS
What do you do?

MONIQUE
I'm just a student

ROSS asks what MONIQUE is studying, GABRIEL nods along in agreement.

ROSS
Well we work at the advertising agency around the corner (he digs around in his wallet, and produces a card)
If you ever need work experience, give's a call.

GABRIEL
Do you want my card too?

MONIQUE (Unsure)
Sure.

ROSS
Nice meeting you MONIQUE, we will let you get on with your day

GABRIEL
You are just so nice, really, have a lovely day. God bless you, you're so nice. Do you believe in God?

MONIQUE (internal groan)
No.

GABRIEL
Oh! Can I talk to you about God? Maybe over a coffee?

MONIQUE
No, thank you.

GABRIEL
But we all need God. Jesus can really improve your life.

MONIQUE
Thank you but I have my own beliefs

GABRIEL
And what do you believe?

MONIQUE (Thinking on her feet)
That one should treat others as they want to be treated

GABRIEL
That's what Jesus says! Are you sure I can't tell you about God

MONIQUE
Yes, thank you, I can think those things without the Jesus part

GABRIEL
Ok, well, if you change your mind, you have my card.

MONIQUE
Thanks.

MONIQUE turns back to the milk and the two men walk away.

Maria

The room pulsed with the collective heart of a Friday night. I could barely hear Maria over the noise or the bar, glasses clinking, people talking, shoes shuffling, coat cast aside, laughter, instruments being tuned for the next band.
Maria was a friend of a friend of mine, Who I had bumped into that night at random. She was more interested in talking to him than to me. She suggested they go to a house party after the bar, and I don't remember how, but I heard mention of VCA.
Steeled by beer and atmosphere, I bullishly tried to assert myself in the conversation.
"What do you do at VCA?" I asked.
"Music" Maria said.
And that was that.

Adrian and Christian

Murky night with
An awkward date -
Two brothers are friends
Of the one I am with,
Adrian has tattoos that
They speak about
But don't include
Me in the
Conversation, so I
Sip my Gin
And become accused
Of being quiet
By Christian, who
Has a moustache that
Matches his curly hair
And his
Beige sports coat, and
I feel like I'm the younger
Out of all the
Company I'm keeping this night.
Then we go dancing,
And there is no need
For speaking,
But I still feel alone,
Even though I then meet
Tedo, and Laura and Harry.

On Awkward Meetings

Waiting outside the class roo, our eyes met briefly
Then they shifts to our respective feet
We've been sitting in the same class on and off now for 8 weeks
He speaks first, referring to the room change for the class
"Hope we have the right room"
"Yeah, I think we do, there are some other guys"
I indicated other people from the class sitting behind the escalators.
"I'm about to do a talk on Marx..." He started vaguely.
"Yeah, it was a good reading."
"Yeah, I enjoyed it."
The noise of the people coming down the hall coloured the silence.
"You don't come to this class very often"
"No,"
(He had a very enthusiastic way of speaking: He was animated, good humour but he almost spat out his words)
"This have been a bit crazy this semester."
His voice then dropped and I missed the first few words of his next sentence.
"...died, then my girlfriend left to go overseas for four months, and then I lost my job, I might get to do the readings but I can't get to the classes."
I smiled because I didn't know what else to do.
"Yeah, I understand."