I’ve known Mary’s best friend Kaylene since I was five years old. In fact I still remember the night that Mary and I stayed over at Kaylene’s house when I had just started school.

“Will you say grace for us Sally?” asked Mr Moss, who probably gave me that special honour because I was the youngest around the table (he didn’t realise I was also the shyest and most ignorant).

“Grace,” I whispered just loudly enough for all to hear.

Everyone laughed and I felt my face go hot.

Later on they popped me into bed with Kaylene’s eldest sister. At sixteen or seventeen, Janice seemed to me to be grown up, highly glamourous and about the prettiest young woman I had ever seen. She cuddled me all night.

“I’ll never forget sleeping with Janice – she was so nice to me,” I told Kaylene this afternoon as we walked back from the shore of Lake Cooroibah to Kaylene’s house on Morning Glory Drive (Near Noosa, Queensland).

“She remembers you too,” she smiled.

No doubt Kaylene remembered also my lack of grace but she didn’t mention it. Lorelle and I had a lovely afternoon and, as always, the lake was beautiful.