It was Friday afternoon and I was glad I didn't have a date. I'd been asked but
nothing seemed right about any of them. I just wanted to be alone.
Seattle was rainy when I boarded the United flight to Los Angeles. Where did
they get the LAX from and the other names for the airports anyway? Who's job was
it at the CAB to name them?
First class always appeals to me. Not just in flights but everything else too. I
guess I just feel more important when I spend more money on me. Clothes, car, my
hair, having my nails done, a facial, presents for friends, restaurants and
flying in first class. Why was I thinking of all these things? My mind was
wandering.
My presentation this morning went well. I was proud of myself. Somehow, being
the only woman in the meeting made me proud."It was a man's world" was boring
but it still held true in my career. Marketeers were almost all men up to five
years ago with Bennett Financial. I even feel that it should be men out making
the living in their little Brooks Bros. suits and wing tip shoes and white
button down shirts. I don't want to be out here in Seattle, flying, working,
driving with little time for me. That's why I'm glad I don't have a date this
evening when I get home. I just want to be alone.
"Excuse me, ma'am" the attendant was saying. I guess I had dropped off. I was
aware that my right foot was asleep and my shoes had gone under my seat. I was
turned on my right side sleeping. I had a vague feeling of being wakened in the
middle of an anxious dream and at first I was a little afraid. Where was I?
"Excuse me, Miss Albright, I don't mean to wake you but we need to move a
passenger up next to you we seem to be having some problem getting her lights
and fan to work, do you mind?"
I still was a little foggy. I must have been sleeping for some time. I usually
only have trouble waking after I fall asleep for one or two hours in the
afternoon. I didn't even answer and I noticed another woman standing next to the
flight attendant. She was going to sit next to me.
"I'm Jackie Montague. I hope you don't mind awfully letting me sit next to you.
The controls over my seat weren't working and I couldn't read and there was no
fan. I guess there was some kind of electrical problem, nothing major."
I answered not fully awake. Mostly nodded. "That's fine. I'm Cindy Albright,
please sit down." My valise was not on the seat next to me but I guessed the
flight attendant had put it overhead.
Jackie rang the call button. The attendant arrived. "I'd like a glass of orange
juice, may I order something for you Cindy"? Orange juice sounded great right
now and something in her voice was strangely appealing. I answered right away.
"Yes, I'd like orange juice too, please".
Jackie stared at me for just a moment longer than necessary. A smile came over
her mouth. Strangely appealing. "I'm going to LA, you?" she said. The way she
spoke. Very direct. That's what everyone at work says is my claim to success.
Being direct. I didn't feel direct though. She was direct. And her stare was
sort of piercing. She smiled when she spoke but it didn't really seem like a
complete smile. Just partly. The rest of her smile was as though she was holding
something back.
"Me too. I live in LA and have been in Seattle for a couple of days. My work."
Jackie sipped her drink. "What kind of work are you involved in?" Now we were
going to do some chit chat I could see but she seemed a little more interesting
than most. For the last two days I had been involved in so many sets of small
talk that I hoped we could really talk. I wanted to really talk. No more chit
chat, please. "I work for a financial corporation that sells certain products to
banks. I've been in Seattle presenting our product line to a couple of banks."
"I live in LA and work for CNN, the news tv channel," Jackie said. "I'm in sales
too, a little like you, I imagine, Cindy." No one ever calls me by my name.
Somehow, it always sounds serious. Like when I was a little girl and my mom
would call me into the house, especially if I had done something to displease
her. Jackie appeared to be about five years older than me. It was hard to tell
in this light, though. Five or six years older I would guess.
I had just had my twenty-eighth birthday about a month earlier. I could forget
about most of it except the cake with the candle that Frank ordered at the
restaurant he had taken me to. Not the cake, the song the waiters had struggled
through. It was horrible. But it was funny. Frank was funny that night too.
Frank was usually not too funny. I was glad we were taking some time away from
each other to think out our relationship.
dark heels. I hadn't noticed but she looked somewhat masculine. Her hair was
dark and fairly short. She had a very ...
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