2009/04/21

PROMPTuesday #52 – Flying the Friendly Skies

DaGoddess @ 03:22

In an unprecedented move, I’m using this week’s PROMPT to further last week’s story. Except I’m going in reverse. Sort of.

It’s all part of devious plan, I can assure you. Really. She made me do it.

It wasn’t just a trip to a foreign country. To her it was much more than that. Something about Kenya had been calling to her for a very long time. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt it deep in her heart. Her parents had tried to talk her out of going. Her sisters had tried, too. Even her brother begged her not to go. “You don’t know what could happen there. There are wild animals; snakes! Dangers of all sorts,” he cried. She was his favorite sister, after all. “You could encounter strange people who’ll hurt you!”

But go she did. And she felt a thrill course through her as she boarded the plane that would take her on the last leg of the trip, from Europe to Africa, where she was going to help in a medical clinic for two months, followed by a wildlife study for another two. It was all part of her Earthwatch adventure she’d been planning for the last six years.

She got comfortable in her seat by the window, not wanting to miss a single moment. She wanted to see everything she could see. Of course, so focused was she that she didn’t notice the man who took the seat next to her for quite some time. When she did turn and actually saw him, she gasped audibly. There was something about him that said, “Hi, I’m here to change your life.”

He must have heard her gasp because he turned to look at her. Offering his tanned hand, he introduced himself, “I’m Barry. Looks like we’re going to be flight mates for the next several hours. And you are?”

Jen was sure she was blushing nine ways to Sunday, but she somehow managed to reach out and take his hand, giving her name, and quite possibly babbling something terribly inane that she couldn’t remember to save her life. He didn’t seem to notice or mind. His eyes were locked on hers and they were both so caught up in the moment that it took the flight attendant several “ahems” to get their attention.

“I’m afraid it’s time for you to buckle up. We will be departing soon. I will return shortly to get your drink orders. Champagne, perhaps? It does look like a celebration is in order for you two.”

Jen and Barry laughed and protested, “no, no.” All the while the attendant smiled a brilliant white grin and said, “yes, I do believe there is a celebration about to begin.” With that, the attendant walked away.

“Wow! She’s gorgeous!” Jen declared. “She’s exactly what I would expect to see once I land in Mombasa.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” her new friend observed.

“Oh, thank you, um…thanks,” she giggled, blushing even more. “You…you’re…y…”

“What takes you to Mombasa?” Barry interrupted. “Work? Adventure? Romance?” There was a bit of twinkle in his eye as he uttered the last word.

“Uh, it’s, um…I’m going on an extended working vacation. No romance! I mean, no romance. And you? I mean, why are you going to Kenya?”

“Pretty much the same thing for me. Except now I think I may have to work romance into the itinerary.”

“O-oh?” Jen was flustered at this point and rather tongue tied. She was never very good at flirting and could never figure out how to respond when someone was flirting with her. However, her inability to think or speak when confronted with flirtation seemed even worse now as she sat next to this man. He was breathtakingly handsome. Model quality, really. And he was flirting with her!

The airplane started rolling down the runway, picking up speed, just like Jen’s heartbeat as she felt the warmth of Barry’s gaze upon her. She ducked her head a bit and looked out the window, hoping for distraction and some sense of social graces that would enable her to act like a human being in front of this modern day Adonis.

With a big swoop, the plane was lifted into the air. She turned to look at her new friend. He was smiling directly at her as he reached over once again and took her hand, raising his eyebrow and attempting a little boy face, “I hope you don’t mind. I get a little nervous when I fly.”

“No problem. No problem at all.”

Something about Kenya had been calling to her for a very long time. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt it deep in her heart. Was this it?

8 Comments

  1. Ah, beginnings. :princess:

    Comment by Pam — 2009/04/21 @ 04:32

  2. Yes. Every story has a beginning.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/21 @ 04:36

  3. I am adoring this “serial.” You cannot stop now. I’d rather read this than watch Bravo and that’s saying something….

    Comment by San Diego Momma — 2009/04/21 @ 05:21

  4. thank you! You mean I’m more satisfying than Patty Stanger and her millionaires?

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/21 @ 05:23

  5. I think Kenya’s calling me now…

    Comment by Chris — 2009/04/21 @ 06:42

  6. Are you kidding me??? Sounds like a leftist romance novel :nana:

    Comment by Rob Sama — 2009/04/21 @ 06:59

  7. Aha. The plot thickens. I like the way this is developing.

    Comment by g — 2009/04/22 @ 06:48

  8. Rob, if I’d had my way several years ago, I would have been on such a trip myself.

    G, Jen and Barry had to meet somewhere!

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/22 @ 08:13

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