On a Chance

Contest Prompt was to write a story that included the following song titles:
"we are family", "Hippy Hippy Shake", "come on a safari with me", "Lets hear it for the boy" and "all you need is love"
Also highlight the titles in the story.

On a Chance

         The flight attendant scurried to her station for the preflight lesson of the day.  Having seen and given it so many times, I just kicked off my shoes, buckled my seat belt and settled in for the long haul.  It’ll be good to relax and just enjoy the flight for once.  I never seem to deadhead anywhere.  One-week left, I could have vacationed anywhere but I have not spent time with Karen in a long time, she’s my only sister and we are family, the only family I have. 

         I looked out the window, the ground crew finished buttoning up and I felt them hook up to push us out.  Janice, the F.A., was just demonstrating the oxygen when the man in front of me reclined his seat almost into my nose. 

         “Excuse me sir, but we are about to taxi and take off, you need to put your seat in an upright position!” 

         “You sound like the Stew.”  He sounded arrogant and annoyed.

         “It’s Flight Attendant, and yes I am!” I could hear him unbuckle his seat belt and look over back at me.  He is handsome and young; I guess thirty, athletic, showing a lot of muscle. 

         “I’m sorry Miss, but I always fly with me seat back, I don’t mean to offend.”  He sounded British or Australian.  He adjusted his seat and must have turned to kneel in it because he was now looking at me over the back with cow eyes.  “I’m really sorry Miss!”

         “You better sit down correctly and buckle up, they're starting the engines, we will be leaving soon.”  I felt like his mother, watching his head slowly sink below the back of the seat.

         We taxied to the runway and with no delays just took off; in fifteen minutes, at the end of the climb the seat belt sign went off. 

         Janice tapped me on my shoulder, “Betty, the gentleman in 12A sent you this.”  She handed me a frosted glass with a milk shake and a note.  “It’s that Hippy Hippy Shake the company is touting.”  The note read, ‘Really, really sorry, can we be friends?’

         “It’s in the way of an apology.” He blurted out while peeking over the back of his seat. “My name’s George, I hope you’ll accept it?”

         Janice winked at me and went back to the galley.  “Tell you what, the seat next to me is empty, it would be safer for you to just sit over here, rather than you looking over your seat all the time.”

         He was next to me in a flash.  “So, Betty, where you go’in in the Apple?”

         “Home, to my sister and three cats.”  I caught him looking at my left hand and I already saw he was not wearing a ring.  “No, I’m not married.  You already know what I do, how about you, what do you do?”

         “Drummer, I’m play’in with the Cretans.”  He sipped his shake.  “We’re on tour, I’m meet’in with them in New York and we’re go’in to Cape Town for a video shoot.”

         “Thought you guys only chartered flights?  Going cheap this time?”

         “The flight to Africa is a charter, you ever been there?”  His boyish style of banter and constant attention says he’s interested.

         “No, I only fly domestic.” 

         “How come you’re not working now?”

         “Vacation, I have another week and then I fly the friendly skies again.”

         “Tell ya what luv, come on a safari with me, you’ll love it.”  His eyes glared in anticipation at me.  “We’ll be back in five days.”

         “Aw no, that would be a bit too much excitement for a home body like me.”

         “Come on, it’s a Gulf Stream, open bar, gourmet meals and the best hotels.”

         “You’re crazy, you just met me,” Looking at him sideways, “I just met you… We don’t know each other, how can you take me to Africa?”

         “Hopefully in an air-o-plane,” His grin was intoxicating.  “Honest, there’s no hanky panky, I’m not a masher, I’m not a rapist or mass murderer, I like ya, I wanna get ta know ya, it’ll be five daze oh fun.  Come on, the band is a great bunch o’ fun lovers!”

         “But what about my sister, I promised to visit her for a while?”

         “We’ll bring her along, and the cats too!”

         I shook my head, “I don’t know.”

         “Because you’re a lovely lady that I think deserves a nice vacation.”  He leaned across the isle to our neighbors.  “If you were offered, an all expense paid vacation for five days, wouldn’t you take it?” 

         The gray haired lady and her husband shook their heads in agreement.  George stood up and announced it to everyone around us. “Come on Gents, let’s encourage her, she’s a little shy, M’ Name is George, some may know me.  I’m askin’ the young Miss Betty here ta come wit me on a vacation.  Ya think she should go?” 

         I felt myself turning red; I thought it was just a joke, to Cape Town?  “Yea, Ok, I’ll go!”  I yelled out.   

         I heard someone yell out, “Have a great time!”

         Another woman screamed, “Marry him, he’s rich!”

         George stood there with his arms raised, “Lets hear it for the boy, kin I convince someone or what?”

         He was applauding himself as he sat back down, “Betty you’re goin’ ta have a great time, all you need is love and faith in yer fellow man.”

* * *

         Cape Town was marvelous, the craziest and most impetuous thing we had ever done on a spur of the moment.  It was summer down there and we came back sun burned, drunk and in love.  George and I will be married in two months, as soon as he comes off tour, my sister will be my maid of honor.


W.C. = 971