Shhh! Scribbler at Work

Hidden Treasure

[prompt: 'value' 30/11/18]

"It's a bit of a joke," I said. "But let's do it!"

Kanute laughed out loud. "We never win anything more than a bottle of wine!" Still, we lined up for a turn to choose 'the' one.

Exploring our first Royal Perth Show, we'd been attracted to a crowd in front of a unique stand. A long glass aquarium contained all the usual phoney sea grasses, rocks and small plastic ornaments, plus brightly coloured fake fish and turtles bobbing around above several thick layers of closed oyster shells.

The small Japanese showman encouraged his audience to pay $2.00 for a fishing net on a handle, "give it a twist, a flick of the wrist" - and catch an oyster shell. He would shuck it open and reveal... maybe just a grain of sand, or even nothing at all!

"So sorry," he would say. "But because I'm such a kind fellow, I'm going to give you a second dip... but no more chances after that. My last offer, peoples." Anything larger than a small peppercorn with a 'pearly' hue was considered a fair return on your investment. Occasionally someone would get a little larger one and that was the appeal and charm of this unlikely 'fishing trip'; the reason for the crowd.

Lady Luck was surely grinning at us that day, because my pearl was enormous! With a rich creamy glow in warm apricot and palest pink hues, there was only one tiny flaw – from her attachment to the shell.

The stall-holder paled, looking near to collapse as a collective gasp came from the onlookers. I could barely breathe and wanted to laugh and cry at the same time... and did. The shock and disbelief on the vendor's face as he told us this had never happened to him before was mirrored by those gathered around. The first offers were made right then and there by envious onlookers in the crowd. Ohh NO. NO sale of our $2.00 pearl, then or ever.

For years we kept our treasure intact, in safe keeping through the toughest and leanest years of our farming life, until a more financial day should happen. Then 1980 arrived, the year of our Pearl wedding anniversary by 'Modern' interpretation. Traditionally, Pearl is the 30th – but that seemed a lifetime away! Remembering our wondrous pearl, we retrieved her and gasped anew at her beauty.

"Fell in love with her all over again, didn't you?"

"Ohh, yes-s-s. It was like seeing her for the first time."

We were not disappointed by the reaction of our trusted jeweller. He was profoundly impressed by this valuable pearl and her whopping size - 8mm across, 5 carats and 1 gram in weight.

"I see it as a ring, with that pearl sitting high on a strong but simple gold claw. And a plain gold band," he suggested. "Absolutely nothing should detract from its beauty." We needed no convincing. It sounded wonderful - and he was SO right - it was a perfect choice.

As she awaited collection, he displayed her in pride of place in a locked glass cabinet on his counter-top. How he admired that treasure and his own artistic contribution. His was not the only attention it attracted. Amongst many requests to purchase , one lady returned several times, raising her bid each time, to an amazing high of $450.00 (a tidy sum in 1980).

"I promised to ask if you'd consider selling, but... I warned her you would refuse."

How right he was. Over 50 years now since my beloved pearl emerged , and still her mellow beauty never changes, never diminishes with age.

Value for money?

This would have to be the BEST $2.00 we ever spent.