Vicki Allen broke up with Adrian Pierce, then 17 years old, in December 1971, right before the holiday season. As the separation came to an end, Allen gave Pearce a gift that was wrapped in shiny blue paper.

He hurled the gift under the Christmas tree, setting off a tale fit for a novel, while distraught and furious.

When the two met again in a bar in St. Albert, interested bystanders sat around them, waiting to see what was below the tattered and faded wrapping paper.

It came out that Kim Grove’s “Love is…” comic strips were the gift. The single-frame comic, which included scenes with the same pair and fleeting descriptions of love, was modeled after Grove’s love letters to her husband.

“I was so happy about it that I nearly started crying.” I’ll put a frame around it. I’m going to keep it there since it’s been a part of my life for the most part now,” Pearce declared.

After sharing the story with Allen on Christmas Eve 2017, a mutual friend persuaded Allen to travel to Edmonton for the unwrapping, leading to their reunion.

The $5 bar fee was paid by more than a hundred neighbors and friends to observe the unwrapping; the money were given to the Edmonton Christmas Bureau.

That seems like a long time to harbor resentment. It’s a little concerning, to be honest. However, I’m happy he did “Allan chuckled. “I don’t think there’s anything he could have done differently that would have made me happier than what he’s done with this.”

Pearce wrote and self-published a book detailing the 47-year history of the gift, with chapters contributed by his spouse, Jans Piers.

According to Pearce, he kept it wrapped in part out of eccentricity and in part to keep his word to himself when he was just 17 years old. The promise held true ever since Allen assisted him in opening the gift.

“It always reminded me of those long-ago, innocent days,” he continued. Our future lied ahead of us all. It took me back to my naive and impressionable 17 years old every year. Furthermore, life hadn’t battered me as it occasionally does.”

Piers claimed that although she never understood her husband’s reasoning behind the gift, she did so when they worked on the book.

“It was just something that he never let go of,” she continued. “Like somebody who still has a teddy bear from their childhood.”

Allen expressed her gratitude for the story’s eventual resolution, saying it began with pain.

“Whatever introduction to love our high school relationship meant to us — we’re very blessed, we’re very fortunate and we’re very lucky that we do know what love is,” she stated.