by Merri Hiatt
“Abby, how are you?”
The women exchanged air kisses, then settled into a stance that kept them at a slight distance, pronouncing to onlookers that they were merely acquaintances, not friends.
“Good, and you?”
“Good. Are you working today?”
“Why else would I look like this? Jenny, you kill me. I wish I could get away with a simple outfit like yours. People just seem to expect so much more from me now that I’ve won the Golden Wings award.”
“I heard about that. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. It’s really an honor just to be nominated.”
“You’ve received a lot of honors, then. How many years have you been nominated?”
“Well, let’s see.” Abby moved her right hand under her left elbow and stroked her chin with her fingers. “I guess it’s been at least ten years. Seems like forever when I count them all up.”
“Where are you heading today?”
“Baltimore. I’m combining the trip with a visit to see my brother, Craig. You remember him, the handsome man with the gorgeous muscles?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met him.”
“Sure you have. Everyone knows Craig. I think he’s dated half the flight crew in the U.S.”
“Maybe Kate knows him.”
“Hmm, now that you mention it, maybe I was thinking of Kate. She has such a passion for boys and their toys.”
“It was good seeing you again, Abby. I need to get going.”
“Oh, when’s your flight?”
“Soon. You take care. I’m sure we’ll run into one another again.”
“You take good care, Jenny, darling. You’re looking a bit pale. You really need to get some sun now and again.”
“I’ll remember that.”
They exchanged air kisses again and then headed in opposite directions.
Jenny sighed deeply. Maybe Rich was right, some flight attendants really were Skirts.
When she reached the holding room, Jenny was delighted to see she had the place to herself. She made herself comfortable, removing her shoes and placing her suit jacket over the back of the couch so it wouldn’t wrinkle while she waited for her flight.
Patricia was right, she wouldn’t have to spend so much time waiting around the airport if she’d get over her fear of the accident. Panic and anxiety flooded her nervous system whenever she thought about the experience.
“How does Rich do it? He’s got airplanes, passengers and other vehicles to watch out for. And he can’t even hear!”
Jenny ran her thumb across the palm of her right hand. Rich’s hand had been rough as it grazed hers earlier. A working man’s hands. It reminded her of her father’s words: “Never marry a man with smooth hands, Jenny. It means he’s soft, never done a hard days’ work. It’s good to work hard. It builds character. Everyone needs good character.”
“Do you think I have good character, Dad?”
Jenny’s words were met with the quiet hum of the vending machine, then the louder tick of the clock on the East wall.
She found Rich’s card in her pocket and retrieved her cell phone from her bag. She pressed the buttons as she tried to think of something to say.
“This is Rich.”
“Hi, Rich. It’s Jenny, Jenny Collins. We met this morning in the airport corridor.”
“Hey, Skirt.”
“I guess you remember me.”
“Yes, I do. I was only kidding with the Skirt comment.”
“I know. Don’t do it again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Not that either. Just Jenny.”
“All right then. Hi just Jenny, how is your day going?”
“You know what I mean. It’s going okay. I was just wondering… I mean, if you have time some time… Would you, maybe, um…”
“I’d love to go out with you. Name the date and time and I’ll choose the place. Do you like Korean food?”
“Oh! That would be lovely. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten Korean food.”
“Did I miss something? You sound surprised.”
“I was going to ask you something else.”
“Now I feel pretty foolish. Should I take back my offer?”
“I hope you won’t. I’d really like to see you again.”
“When are you back in town?”
“I’m staying over one night in Utah. How about the fifteenth at seven o’clock?”
“Works for me. You’ll love Korean food.”
“It’ll be an adventure.”
“What were you going to ask me?”
“It was nothing. Just something I’ve been thinking about.”
“Come on. You were going to ask me before I interrupted you. What were you going to say?”
“I was going to ask if you might consider teaching me to drive.”
“I assumed you already knew how. Sure, I’ll teach you.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“You’re not going to kill me, right?”
“I certainly hope not.”
“I need a more reassuring answer than that.”
“No. I’m not going to kill you.”
“Do you want to learn on an automatic or stick?”
“I’d like to learn both, but maybe an automatic first. And, I should probably tell you that I had a really bad experience in a car once.”
“I figured something must have happened. Most people are itching to learn to drive by the time they hit fifteen. We’ll go slow. You’ll be safe with me.”
“Thanks, Rich.”
“I’m really glad you called.”
“Me, too.”
Jenny smiled nervously. It was going to be an adventure, that was for sure.
Chapter Eight
Geri Bonds nodded at the waiting passengers as she joined Jenny behind the Ballinger Air boarding counter. “Sorry I’m late. Ben was throwing up all night and he wouldn’t let Carrie touch him. I hated to leave him this morning, but at least his temperature was finally below one hundred.”
“Flu?”
“That’s my guess.”
“Poor little guy.”
“His lungs still work fine.” Geri straightened her suit jacket and gazed over Jenny’s shoulder at the check-in list. “Six still haven’t arrived?”
“Yeah. Two in first class.”
“The rest of FC has already been seated, right?”
“Yep. Half an hour ago. Randee Griffiths is on it.”
“I didn’t even look past your name when I was checking the flight crew this morning. I was sure glad to see you on the list.”
“I got your back.”
“That’s why I was glad.”
Aida Brown joined the duo. “We’re ready to board coach.”
“I’m on it,” Jenny said as she switched places with Geri so she could man the computer terminal while announcing that they were now boarding.
“You’ve got the bug,” Aida said, smiling at Jenny.
“Do I look sick?”
“Not that kind of bug. The excited about flying bug. Your cheeks are flushed and your eyes are sparkling.”
“She always gets that way,” Geri said. “I think she should take flying lessons and become a pilot.”
Jenny didn’t have a chance to reply. Passengers were heading toward the corridor leading to the plane and she needed to check boarding passes and welcome them, as well as make sure their carry-on baggage met airline requirements.
Aida joined her and in no time flat all the passengers except a few stragglers were on board.
Jenny watched as Geri read a text as discreetly as possible.
“How’s Ben?”
“Sleeping. Carrie scheduled an appointment for him at noon.”
“Oh, good. I wish you could have stayed home with him.”
“Me, too, but we need the money. Summers are always hard; substitute teachers aren’t needed much and Carrie feels like she’s not carrying her share of the expenses.”
“It’s actually a good thing that she’s not working right now; she can take care of Ben.”
“Yeah. I don’t think she sees it that way.”
“Are things okay between you two?”
Geri looked around to see if anyone was within earshot. “It’s pretty wonderful. I love her so much, Jenny. I didn’t know I was capable of loving another person so much. Well, except for a baby.
I was married to Randall for eight years and I never had this kind of love and passion for him. I guess it wasn’t entirely his fault, except for the drinking and cheating.
Carrie is just so kind and caring. I had no idea I was even attracted to women until I met her.”
“Maybe you’re not so much attracted to women as you are attracted to one specific woman.”
“Maybe so.” Geri turned quiet.
“What?”
“Mom and Dad still aren’t talking to me. They haven’t seen Ben in over six months. He doesn’t understand, of course. He just wants to see grandma and grandpa.”
“They’ll come around. They need time.”
“It’s time they can never get back. They’re missing out on so much, and Ben is missing them. I’m afraid he’s going to forget them.”
Jenny put her on hand Geri’s arm. “He won’t forget them. You won’t let him.”
“I show him pictures all the time, but then he wants to see them and talk with them on the phone. It’s all jibberish, of course, but his little face lights up when he hears their voices.
How can loving someone make everything such a mess?”
“Wish I had an answer. I’m sorry you’re going through all this.”
“How about you? Is love messing up your world?”
“Not at the moment, but I’m more than happy to add a bit of mess to my life.”
“Carrie has a friend you might be interested in.”
“Male or female?”
“Female. She’s really cute, in her late twenties.”
“If I was gay, I’d say set me up, but I’m not. I did meet an interesting gentleman in the corridor today. His name is Richard Novatney.”
“The baggage guy?”
“You know him?”
“Yeah. Melissa Walker was seeing him for a while. I thought they were going to make a go of it, but she said he got cold feet at the last minute.”
“How come?”
“She never really said. He seemed like an okay guy, but Jenny, you can have your pick of guys. Why would you choose a baggage carrier?”
“Why not?”
“For starters, they don’t make much money and they come home filthy.”
“You’ve had personal experience with this?”
“Well, no, but they’re lifting heavy luggage all day and they must end up smelling like hot tarmac when they come home.”
“He smelled like the forest and something else. Chammomile, maybe.”
“You were close enough to smell him? Tell me more.”
“I got lost underneath the terminal…”
“You never get lost.”
“I know. Jessica McDaniels had me all fired up.”
“She does love to push people’s buttons.”
“Rich gave me directions and then actually took the time to walk with me to the security checkpoint. And he told me about the nicknames.”
“Nicknames for what?”
“The security checkpoints.”
“They have nicknames?”
“Yes, and they are none-to-flattering.”
“Okay, I have to know now.”
“Skirt, Dick, Minions, Form and Digs.”
“Hello? Care to enter the current century?”
“I know, right? I was appalled.”
“Figures, most of the security guards are men.”
“All the security guards under the terminal are men.”
“I suppose the male FAs make more money than we do, too?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Tell me exactly why having balls makes me a better FA?”
“I think it’s the strength thing. If someone were to attack us poor, helpless females, we wouldn’t be able to fight back.”
“Want to bet? We all took self-defense classes. I can take a linebacker down, if I need to. So why should some guy get more money for doing the exact same job I’m doing?”
“Preach it, sister.”
“I know. It’s just so unfair.”
“Welcome to the real world.”
Aida Brown joined them. “All the passengers are boarded and settled in. How many no-shows?”
“Three,” Geri said.
Aida glanced at her watch. “They have thirty seconds, then we’re closing the door.”
“Aida, do you think male FAs get paid more than female FAs?” Geri asked.
“Sure. It’s the Old Boys’ Network. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Women have been fighting it for years.”
“Do you think we’ll ever win the battle?”
“Absolutely. When a woman becomes president, things will change for the better.”
“Is that reverse sexism?” Jenny asked.
“No. It’s about damn time we started electing officials who can get the job done, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or any of that other crap that gets in the way.”
“Aida for president!” Geri said.
“I second that motion,” Jenny chimed in.
“I humbly accept the nomination. My first order of business? Equal pay for equal work.”
“Go Aida. Go Aida. Go, go, go Aida!” Jenny and Geri said in unison.
“You goofballs. Come on, we’ve got a flight full of passengers to take care of.”
“Authoritative. See, she would make a good president,” Jenny said, winking at Geri.
Chapter Nine
When all the passengers were on board, carry-on luggage stowed and the access door closed, the three women met Brindle Atkins in the kitchen area to divvy up tasks for the flight.
“I don’t need to stick around for this. I’m going behind the black curtain to the land of heated washcloths, gourmet cheese and slippers.” Randee gave her co-workers a wicked grin, then turned and headed for first class.
“Who are you sleeping with to get FC after only a year?” Jenny asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“She’s one of the best,” Aida said.
“It is odd how quickly she rose up through the ranks, though,” Geri said.
“Guess that’s my cue, too,” Brindle said, following Randee down the narrow aisle.
Jenny leaned around the dividing wall toward coach. “Natives are getting restless, let’s hurry this up. I’ll take emergency instructions and drinks.”
“I’m on food and welcome,” Aida said.”
“I guess that leaves me with being back-up and doubling up with you on instructions, Jenny. Just give me a nod when you need an extra pair of hands,” Geri said.
“Got your back,” they said in unison, followed by, “Safe flight.”
After the pilot greeted the passengers, Aida made her welcome and emergency instructions were finished, they buckled themselves into the slim pull-down seats for take-off.
“I hate this part,” Geri said.
“I love this part,” Jenny said.
“It’s all part of the job,” Aida said.
Once the plane leveled off, they removed the safety belts and began assessing passengers’ needs. A blanket was gathered to warm a fussy baby. A woman in a midnight blue suit wanted to read, but couldn’t get her light to work. Two children who looked to be about eleven or twelve were pressing their noses to the glass, amazed at their first flight.
“We’ve got first-timers,” Jenny said.
“I only have one pin in my pocket,” Geri said.
“Here, take one of mine.”
Geri took the pins and personally welcomed the boys. “Hi boys, are you having fun?”
A boy with dark hair and wire-rimmed gla
sses nodded his head vigorously. “It’s awesome. The clouds are underneath us!”
“We’re glad you chose Ballinger Air as your first flight. In celebration, we have a little gift for you.” Geri handed each boy a pin.
“Wings! That’s so cool!”
The nodder immediately began loosening the clasp, then pinned it on his shirt.
“Thank the woman,” their mother said.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else I can do to make your first flight special, let me know.”
“There is one thing,” the nodder said.
“Yes?”
“Can we meet the pilot?”
“I’m sorry, passengers aren’t allowed in the cockpit.”
The nodder shrugged as he mumbled, “You’re the one who asked if there was anything you could do.”
Jenny caught the interaction and headed to the front of the plane. When she reached the cockpit, she tapped once on the door.
Brindle met her on the other side. “What’s up?”
“Two young boys are first-time flyers and they want to meet the pilot.”
“Captain Johnson, are you available to come to coach for a few moments to greet first-time passengers? They’re two young boys.”
“Sure.” He slapped his co-pilot, Barry McDonald, on the back. “Will you hold down the fort, Barry?”
“Will do.”
“Remember, the goal is to avoid other aircraft in the sky.”
“How’d you know that was the question I got wrong on the Ballinger exam?”
“Just a lucky guess.”
As they made their way down the hallway, Jenny said, “Thanks, Brendan. These boys are really excited about the flight.”
“It’s my pleasure. I know how much it meant to me to meet the pilot when I was a kid.
Is Kate in town? I’ve been calling her.”
“She’s heading to Ireland for an extended stay.”
“Is that your roundabout way of saying she’s been home for a few days but you didn’t want to hurt my feelings?”
“Guilty. Sorry. You know Kate, she’s not really into relationships.”
“Yeah, I know Kate. I just thought she might be ready to settle down one of these days.”