The other stories I have written in the Group Sex category have taken weeks even months to craft. This series came about out of a desire to produce a work quickly. There are (hopefully) going to be nine chapters in this 'Quickie' series, if they were included in a single work it would make the most implausible reading. I'm hoping that by splitting it over nine separate short stories it will be more fun and only improbable.
These are very short 'quickies' that need to be read in order.
Constructive feedback and comments are always most welcome.
Enjoy.
---------------------------------
Airline food is never the most eagerly anticipated dining experience, but you have to admire the creativity and energy put into making it, plus the cabin staff must have the patience of a Saint to dish it out time after time after time to unappreciative, grumbling passengers.
Although there is, of course, the alcohol. There seems to be something ritual about drinking alcohol when flying. It doesn't seem to matter what time of the day you are flying, drinking alcohol is acceptable, and today I needed some alcohol, probably too much alcohol.
Rachel, where are you?
I pushed the various elements of my dinner around the container and drained my second glass of wine.
"Not a fan of airline food?"
I looked up, it was the lady sitting in the aisle seat, she was in her late thirties, I'd say, and had a friendly face, "No, it's fine... I mean I'm just not very hungry."
"Something on your mind?"
"Yes." I wasn't really in the mood for talking, but I hate appearing to be rude.
She went on, "I recognize that look, I've seen it in myself a lot over the past year. I hope that whatever it is on your mind is resolved quickly."
Her voice was soft and kind and she wasn't probing which was reassuring, "Thank you, I hope so too. Are you travelling on business?" She was obviously travelling solo.
She sighed, "No, travelling in the pursuit of peace."
"The pursuit of peace?" That was a line I'd not heard before and it prompted me to continue the conversation. "What does that entail?"
She played with her food a bit, "Well I've recently become divorced.. "
"Snap!" Having just got the letter this morning, I couldn't help interrupting.
She smiled, "Oh really? We are kindred spirits then. May I ask the circumstances? Please tell me to mind my own business if you'd rather not talk about it."
A passing stewardess acknowledged my request for a some more wine, "No, it's OK. I travel a lot and I love my job... well, I loved my job. My wife, that is my ex-wife needed more companionship and found it in the arms of another man."
"Are you bitter?"
"No, not really. Looking back I saw the signs and to be fair she did tell me of her feelings. I was just too focused on my job and I thought I was doing the right thing being the provider. I didn't give her what she really needed."
The look on her face hardened, "My ex-husband needed more sex and he found it in the arms of his PA, among others. Sorry, but I am bitter."
If there's one thing I've learnt over the years, it's not to be judge-mental, "Don't be sorry. How does this tie into the 'pursuit of peace'?"
"Well, I've had such a horrible time, I decided to do a bit of travelling and find myself, as it were."
"Did you? Find yourself?" I was properly interested now.
"No." That was a let down! "The scenery changed and some of it was just breathtaking, but I found that wherever I went, there were rich people, poor people, just people and the people who lived in the breathtaking scenery were bored of it."
"Yep, I get where you're coming from on that, so how do you feel now, better or not?"
She shrugged, "Not, probably." She settled back into her seat, "I think the answer lies in being happy with me or making a new me."
"How do you make a new you? It's not like you can act against your nature, that wouldn't make you happy either."
"That's true. I don't know." She sighed softly.
"Maybe you went in search of the wrong thing?"
She looked at me enquiringly, "How so?"
"Well maybe you needed to go in search of excitement, or solitude or a new career?" The stewardess delivered my wine. "Would you like to join me?" I held up my wine.
"Yes, please, thank you, that's very kind." She asked for a Gin and Tonic.
I continued, "Maybe you need to discover something new in yourself, or experience something in a more intense way."
Deep in thought, she turned to face me, "I like the idea of that! But what I wonder?"
The stewardess handed her the drink and I paid, "What is your current career path?"
She looked down at her drink, "Ahh, well. My husband... my ex-husband is very wealthy, so I was a lady who lunches. I had to look good on his arm and say the right things. I don't really have a career path as such."