I had just finished my freshman year at The College of Willard & Marie and was looking forward to a couple of weeks of free time before returning to school for a summer internship. A classmate friend (actually my girlfriend) from Rhode Island had invited me to spend a long weekend with her and her family. Since this was my first solo trip to the New England area I made certain that I got to the airport early that Friday afternoon, made my way to the gate well ahead of time and planted myself in a seat away from much of the other awaiting passengers.
I had packed 'light' with just changes of underwear, a couple of t-shirts, another pair of jeans, my running gear (I was on the W&M cross-country team) and a book. The book was on my required reading list for the English Lit course I was taking in the fall semester -- DH Lawrence's
Sons and Lovers.
I had just opened it when I happened to notice a very attractive, stately looking woman who I guessed was probably in her 40s. She was dressed casually in a rather elegant sort of way with slacks and blouse that could have been tailor made for her. She exuded class and dignity and a single gray streak in her hair seemed to add a sense of elegance to her presence. Wow, I thought to myself, now that is one impressive looking woman. And returned to my book.
Time had come to board and I found myself looking around for the woman who had caught my eye but she was nowhere to be seen. Ah, well, I shrugged, boarded and made my way to my aisle seat midway down the cabin. I had just gotten settled and started reading again when I heard a soft but clear feminine voice 'I'm sorry to disturb you but I have the seat next to you.'
I immediately unbuckled and started to get up when she said 'Oh no -- don't get up -- I can squeeze by, if that's alright with you.' I looked up and it was the woman I had spied in the gate area. My heart skipped a beat and I stammered something that I'm sure was unintelligible but I hoped was in the affirmative.
She smiled and deftly brushed by me and slid into the seat next to mine. I returned to my reading and then I heard her say, oh so very softly 'Don't tell me, English Lit 101, yes?'
I turned, smiling and replied 'Yes, exactly...' but before I could ask how she knew, she offered her hand saying 'I'm Angela Wainwright; I teach.'
I stammered a bit but managed 'August Johnson, ma'am. Pleased to meet you.'
'Ma'am?' she replied with a furrowed brow, 'Please, you make me feel ancient!'
Blushing, I grasped her hand lightly and then noticed that on the index finger off her right hand was a black and silver ring with the symbol I had come to understand was the triskelion. One of my freshman courses (where I met Heather) had been a 1 semester hour 'filler' about the uses of symbolism in our daily lives. I actually took the course because word around the campus was that the course was an easy 'A' and that the prof, a woman, was amazingly hot. And word was spot on!! I did actually learn that the triskelion, Celtic in origin, had come to stand for many things over the years. One example in particular that the prof offered and that piqued my interest (and my 19 year-old hormones) was that some current practitioners of BDSM wore a black and silver version of it as a pendant or a ring. And that when worn as a ring, the wearer was either a Dominant or a submissive, depending on the hand on which it was worn. Those who identified as Dominant wore it on the right hand.
I gulped and was now in full on blush mode and didn't know where to go or what to say but before I could blurt out another gaff she lightly placed her hand on my forearm and said 'August, I was joking, I'm not at all offended and actually delighted to encounter a young man with manners.' She was looking me straight in the eye and I felt what I was certain was a bolt of lightning pass through me.
She went on to expand on her 'I teach' comment by disclosing that she was on the faculty of Beige University, was a PhD in English Literature and that Lawrence's work was always high on her list. She then looked me in the eye again and I felt that electricity only this time it was more than simply electric; it seemed erotic. And I could feel it -- Angela was in charge.
She asked where I was studying and, when I replied, complimented me on my choice of schools and offered that she had friends who were on the W&M faculty. There was an air of personal warmth almost to the point of intimacy in her tone and the way she kept looking into my eyes was actually disarming. And then we heard the Captain come on the intercom to report that we were backed up for departure and would be in the cue for a while.
Angela turned in her seat and said 'Well, it appears we're going to be here for a while, August, tell me about yourself. I like to get acquainted with my traveling companions.' There was now more than a touch of intimacy in her tone, almost as if she were trying to pick me up. The thought of sex with an older woman was more than a little interesting but, no, that couldn't possibly be the case.
I talked to her about my family, my life, my friends, my aspirations, goals and dreams. I couldn't believe how amazingly easy she was to talk to and how interested in me she seemed to be. And all the while she never stopped looking me in the eye.
And then my cell phone alerted -- a text from my girlfriend, Heather, in Rhode Island. Angela told me to check it out and I did. It seems Heather was not going to be able to meet me at the airport -- she and her family were being called away for a family emergency out of state but would be back late Sunday. She was leaving her classic '70 Ford Mustang in short term parking for me. The keys and directions to their home would be left with the attendant at the airline's First Class Lounge.
Angela asked if everything was alright. I explained to her what Heather had texted. The expression on Angela's face never changed but there seemed to be something different about the way she looked at me. I'm imagining things, I thought.
And then the Captain came on the intercom again announcing that they were number 3 for takeoff and then a pause. He continued 'Folks, we have just been advised that there is heavy weather moving into southern New England in about 90 minutes or so. A cold front is coming through and bringing with it potentially severe thunderstorms.'