Chapter 17

Charlene sat down in the waiting area of her gate. She had thought about going up to the first class lounge, but decided against it. She wanted to see Joe first and for him to see her at her best. The plane was huge and would surely be full or close to it. Planes seldom flew without being full these days.

He wouldn’t be allowed to enter the first class section where she would settle in with all her accoutrement. She had her new carry on and her very expensive purse in the seat, near by.

She scanned the room and then the outer reaches of the airport as far as she could see. There were hundreds of people walking quickly and slowly by. The distant faces were just a blur until they came within her sight. There were few people seated around her at the moment but that was slowly changing as more and more people filtered in and sat in the waiting area as the minutes passed. The sky blue seats were made so lying down and sleeping while waiting for your flight was impossible.

Some of those coming in were black Africans dressed in bright colors heading home to many different countries while others were obviously, tourists, back packers and businessmen. Most were young and full of energy.

The back packers talked loudly with their traveling companions about adventures from the past and those to come on the dark continent as they sat among their well worn backpacks and carry on items. Some lay on the floor at odd angles or looked out of the wide windows. This group of travelers was a mixed bag, to be sure.

Charlene pulled a magazine from her large purse and looked it over. She didn’t want to dive in too deep yet as she had only so much room for her magazines to entertain her when and if Joe was off writing in the evenings and didn’t want or need her around while on safari or after.

They would be riding together in the jeeps on the safari during most of the long hot days. It didn’t matter what he was doing during the ride. She would be seated next to him all that time and that was enough for her to start with. She thought and hoped that pheromones and proximity might move things in the right direction.

Joe arrived twenty minutes later. She saw him approach at some distance in his very worn Levi’s and blue, long sleeved, shirt and blue windbreaker. He was looking up over head at the array of large and small metal beams that supported the large, expansive roof of the building. It looked similar to a spider’s web. He had obviously forgotten or didn’t have time to shave. His hiking boots were well broken in to say the least. She liked what she saw. “Well. he’s off to Africa, so why not,” she thought.

She had only ever seen him in his suits at work. He had been walking sometime when he finally saw her, waved and came in her direction through a crowd of hundreds of travelers going who knew where. He started to walk faster when he saw her. That pleased her. “There may be a chance.” He joined her two seats away due to the seat between them filled with her overflow.

“Hello Charlene, glad you made it.” He noticed her outfit and was surprised. She looked to be wearing some very expensive clothing. “Not really suitable for a safari,” he thought. “You look very nice tonight Charlene.” She smiled a wide, red, smile.

He instantly thought that he shouldn’t have said that to her, she being a fellow employee or coworker, after all. “Well, we’re not at work now and we’re going on a vacation of sorts together, so what the hell. All bets are off from her on out.”

“I’m glad you decided to let me join you Mr. Monroe.” Charlene was hoping Joe would follow through and let her call him by his first name. “I think we may need to discuss the ground rules a little more closely.” “Fine Mr. Monroe.” “First, Mr. Monroe isn’t going to fly on a three week trip like this. It’s much too, cumbersome. As We discussed, we will just call each other by our first names.

There’s no one here that will think it odd or care. Just call me Joe and I’ll call you Charlene. Back at the office when we return, we will revert back to standard protocol. What do you think? Can you manage that without feeling uncomfortable?” “Yes, Mr. Monroe, I mean Joe. No one will ever know about this, I promise.”

“Great then. I don’t want everyone at work to know you’re my favorite coworker, even though you are.” Charlene’s heart raced.

“Your the best secretary ever and have helped me through more than you may be aware of, especially with this whole marriage fiasco. I was at my wit’s end and you helped to push some of that dispair away with your friendship and good advice. You can’t know how much you have helped me.”

Charlene was beside herself. Things were starting off better than she could have ever imagined. She could smell his body oder and it calmed her. It was a little musky and sweet mixed in with the smell of the soap he used to wash his cloths.

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Well, there we go.

I’m reworking these chapters or scenes on another part of my computer. I am adding and changing small parts as needed. It seems to be going well enough.

I hope this cruel world has missed you and left you unharmed for the moment. Life is hard enough without extra issues to deal with.

I am celebrating my 42nd anniversary on Saturday and my 74 birthday a few days after that.

Thankfully, we can’t see the future.

Don’t forget to come over to TikTok at R.C. Hand22252 to see the photos of our cross country trip from Chicago to Santa Monica on Route 66. I put a few up each morning and in the evening as well.

Thanks for stopping by.