Claire’s Perspective

My side of the story starts a little ways back. Before there was even a connection to Graham, I met his younger sister Lily. Back in October of 2021, I was at a youth group event, and I noticed this new girl(Lily) standing by herself. I felt convicted to go and talk to her. So, I go over and introduce myself. After some talking, we seemed to really hit it off. I then discovered she was my sister’s age. That same day, while my sister and I were hanging out with her, Lily mentioned that she had a brother who was around my age at the youth event. I thought that was cool, but brushed it off.

Some time passes, and it’s March of 2022. My sister and I sat with Lily’s family in church, and I noticed this brother she told me about. Apparently his name was Graham, and he had long curly hair, he also skateboarded. Pretty neat. Eventually after a while, I start to really notice Graham in a different way. He seemed like a very charismatic and kind person. I was very intrigued by him(although, I tried to fight my curiosity of him. I wasn’t interested in dating at that time)

Eventually Graham ends up requesting to follow me on instagram.. I, of course, have a million thoughts going through my mind. Nervous of his efforts to even connect with me, I accept his follow request. I didn’t even realize he knew of my existence.

Skip to June 27th of 2022: It’s camp season. The first day of camp, I happened to be sitting across from Graham at a table in the cafeteria. I noticed he was talking to his friend, but not even looking in my direction. All of a sudden he blurts out to me “have you heard the joke about the duck?!” I was a little caught off guard and replied “uhh I don’t think I have—”, and before I can finish my sentence he says “I’ll tell you later”. I keep that thought in the back of my mind, knowing this is the perfect conversation starter.

June 28th: The 2nd day of camp. My youth leader tells me about how she gave a dollar bill to Graham, and that he is supposed to give it to his “crush”. “There’s a very big possibility he will give it to you”, of course I laugh it off because why the heck would he give me the dollar bill??

Later that day, it’s dinner time. I was standing alone in line for the cafeteria, and then I noticed Graham kept looking in my direction “haha he’s not looking at me” I thought. Well I was wrong because lo and behold, Graham is walking very fast, and it’s in my direction. He approaches me and pulls out a dollar bill “Here”, he says as he hands it to me. I ask him what it was for(even though I clearly know what it was). He said “it’s for a bet”, and then proceeded to walk me over to where my friends were. This was my confirmation that maybe I could talk to him. (This is such a high school thing to do)

June 29th: It’s Wednesday afternoon, and I’m just chilling with my friends by the volleyball net. Sitting talking to my youth leader, I happen to notice Graham, who just so happens to be sitting by himself not too far away from us. Some time passes, and then there’s just this giant big awkward space between us. So, in my own efforts, I try to play it cool and nonchalantly scoot over where he is. I go over to him and ask “can I sit with you? I promise no purple.” (If you go to youth camp, you understand this joke) so he said it was fine to sit with him(I am quite literally cheering inside and dying). I then proceed to ask “so are you gonna tell me this duck joke?”. I believe he went on with this joke for 5 minutes straight until he got to the point, which ends with “put it on my bill”. I laughed, and I honestly thought it was hilarious. Personally, I love puns. He then goes on to tell me another pun related joke, which I believe relieved the awkward teenage tension for both of us. We ended up talking for a long time, just bonding and getting to know each other. Once we established that connection after camp, we became best friends instantly..

Little did I know that this guy would be my husband. I cannot imagine my life without Graham.

Graham’s Perspective

The Start of my side of the story actually starts a few months before Claire and I really started talking, we were both in our church youth group together, didn’t say much other than “howdy” in the hallway, little did Claire know I fancied her. I had this little joke where I would ask “have you heard the joke about the duck?” And explain a really long story, just to end with, “put it on my bill” this joke is an essential part of our story.

It was early May of 2022, I was a junior, she was a senior, and the seniors were graduating out of youth group, so I knew if I wanted to make a move I had to do it quick, because if I didn’t she would be out of the youth group and she would get stolen by one of the young adult men(ew). After many failed attempts to talk to Claire, I found myself discouraged and defeated. Haunted by the shame of my courage(or lack thereof) I was on the brink of giving up.

June 27th: our first day at church camp, I found myself in the cafeteria sitting at the table with another youth group guy, and Claire sitting across the table, I talk with my friend, but don’t make any contact with Claire, until I look at her and say “have you heard the joke about the duck” she says “no, I don’t think I have—“ I exclaim “I’ll tell you later” this strategy was risky, but it was a last second effort to get the girl.

June 28: our second day at church camp, in the cafeteria, I was eating lunch with some people from our church, I found a dollar bill on the floor and asked “is this anyone’s Dollar?” Nobody would claim this dollar, and one of the youth leaders said “hey, you should give that dollar to your crush” of course in an instant I replied “ha, that’s funny, I don’t have a crush” (who even uses that word), I continue to deny, but keep the dollar for later.

Later that day, around 6pm I found a lonely Claire in a crowd waiting for dinner, while I was a few people behind her, I knew this was the opportunity I needed.

I jumped the line, with the dollar in hand and said, “Here” holding out the dollar,— Claire replies with “what’s this for?”, I say— “a bet, um- there is some of the other girls further up the line over there”. I could see in her eyes, the blank stare as she knew what that dollar meant before I even gave it to her. BUSTED! I knew it was over for me, the chances of a fine woman like this, finding interest in a lonesome dreamer, zero to none.

Claire replies, “oh, thank you” my heart pounding as I walk to the back of the line.

9:45pm rolls around, Claire and I were in a group together, walking around, but I continued my disengagement with Claire, making sure I played the tough guy who doesn’t bow to women (I was super shy and didn’t have the courage to talk to her) until she asks me “what was the duck joke?”

Plot twist— I start telling her the strung out duck joke, only to be interrupted, the youth leaders say “it’s curfew we have to go to the cabins”. The duck joke is complex enough to be tucked away for later use, so I say to Claire “I’ll tell you the rest later”

June 29th, I see Claire sitting at the volleyball nets, probably having fruitful conversation, I decided to INTRUDE, I sit down about 8 ft away from Claire… slowly getting closer and closer, until she asks “so what was the rest of that joke you were telling me” “oh yeah” I reply, I start telling her the rest of the joke, stringing it out as long as possible, from here the sparks were flying and at the end of the joke, our conversation didn’t end, like a chipotle bowl that never ends— we indulged in learning everything about each other, we found interest in knowing each others favorite color, and worst fear, we would playfully insult each other, from that day on there hasn’t been a day without Claire.

I couldn’t imagine a life, a day, or even a moment without Claire.