It was the classic high-school party scene; someone’s parents had left them home alone for the weekend and we had decided it would be a great time to throw a party. The neighbours raised their eyebrows as the cars started parking on the lawn. I pulled up, fashionably late like usual, and dropped my keys in the designated box for the night. The shed in the yard became a makeshift club, with a plastic folding table for the drinks. There were buckets of ice with stubbies poking out against the wall, and we repurposed someone’s guitar amp for the music. We were lucky enough to have a bonfire in a 44-gallon drum and a hundred bucks worth of marshmallows.
The night wore on and the sweet and ashy taste of marshmallows blended with the smoke in the air. Suddenly, I caught the faintest scent of something refreshing but I couldn’t place it. The guy in front of me turned around and flashed a smile and we struck up a conversation. He was newly single and I remember his mate joking that I was a step up from his ex. The wind changed direction and carried smoke and cheap alcohol across the air. Every so often I would catch that sweet, refreshing smell again and imagine it across my tongue. Amidst snatches of conversation, I would find myself daydreaming about that flavour. To my inebriated self, nothing in the world could have smelled or tasted so unbelievably wonderful.
I was still flirting with that guy when his mate came back and said something about his ex being in another relationship already. Naturally, my role in this little scandal was clear. I was all dolled up and we decided to take a photo proving he had moved on too. So, in a dress shorter than my mother’s temper, we struck a pose worthy of a centrefold.
It was while I was draped around this guy that I realised where that intoxicating scent was coming from; bubblemint gum. While his friend found the perfect photo angle, I blurted out that I love that flavour of gum and jokingly he asked if I wanted a taste. And I, never one to pass up such an opportunity, kissed him to enjoy that refreshing sweet flavour. The photo was iconic and I had the pleasure of enjoying that flavour all night long…