"Attention passengers boarding Pan Am Flight 3235 with nonstop service to Denver. We will be boarding first class at his time."
"About time, bastards..." muttered the guy next to me.
I gave my newspaper back to the fellow I borrowed it from and picked up my briefcase. The flight had been delayed three hours due to an equipment problem, and I had been sitting at gate C5 in Richmond for what seemed like ages. I was so bored I had begun to read the movie showtimes.
The lady at the counter tore my ticket and I walked down to the plane. As I stepped in the door I saw a couple flight attendants. They were, as such ladies tend to be, quite attractive. I said hello and moved past before my lesser instincts made me stare. I found my seat close by in the first class compartment. It was, amusingly enough, a better seat than the one at the airport. Putting my briefcase in the overhead, I sat down and stretched out my legs. Outside the window it was dark and I soon felt myself dozing. The plane took its time taxiing to the runway and then took off to the west, with the city of Richmond receding behind us.
It must have been about an hour or so but when I woke up, I found myself still the only person in the row. I looked out the window and saw a few lights; clearly we were airborne. Slightly disoriented, I looked around and noticed I was only one of three passengers in first class. I blinked and turned my head back. One of the flight attendants was in her seat across from me, looking at me with an interested expression. I suppose I was turning around a lot in my incredulity over the lack of passengers. I checked my watch. 2 AM. I eyed her. She must have taken it as annoyance and she leaned over with this contrite expression, the kind that makes it impossible to blame a lady.
"I'm so sorry about the delay, sir," she said.
"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault."
"It's just so late."
"Where did everybody go?" I said.
"It's a fairly empty flight, sir. We only have about half of the seats full in coach, even."
"Is that normal?" I asked.
"No, not at all. I heard a party of fifty decided to stay overnight. That and it isn't travel season."
"No, I suppose not."
"Is there anything I can get for you?"
"I'm all right. Thanks for asking."
"Let me know if you need something," she said, resting her back on the seat cushion again. We sat in silence for a few minutes, looking more at each other than at anything else. She had this "I'm curious but I'm too shy to ask" look. At length she leaned forward again.
"If I might ask, sir, what are you flying with us for?"
"Just business, Miss... er..."
"Diana." she said with a smile. It was a thin-lipped, mild sort of smile, the one that teases you to make the next move but doesn't want you to be too bold. I took a look. She was wearing her flight attendant's uniform, a dark blue jacket with silver wings, a dark blue pencil skirt, a tight white blouse with the collar spread over her lapels, and patent leather one-inch heels. Her hair was some lighter shade of dirty blonde, pulled back into a tight ponytail; her figure was slim and fit, with no hint of excess or disproportion anywhere. Her hands, currently draped over the armrest, were smooth in texture and fairly slender, with long, graceful fingers. She was elegant and beautiful.
"Diana. What a pretty name."
She laughed. "Why, I believe that's the first time I've had that said to me."
"It's a pretty name for the prettiest stewardess I've ever seen." I said. I knew I was going out on a limb but she just seemed like the playful type.
"Oh, thank you. You know I'm not supposed to be so unprofessional, but..."
"Look, there are four people in this section. One is asleep, one is listening to music so loud I can almost tell what song is playing if I try, one is me, and one is really drop-dead gorgeous." I said. She covered her mouth but I could tell she was enjoying it.
"Don't sell yourself so short," she said finally, still giggling.
"Oh, I'm all right, I guess." I said with a shrug.
"I have to do the snack service, excuse me." she said. It was a rather abrupt transition in her demeanor and I blinked as she got up and dragged out the snack cart.
"Would you like some peanuts, sir?" she said.
"Oh, uh, sure." I said, still a little surprised. She handed me the packet.
"Thanks."
She soon disappeared into the coach section. As I ate the peanuts I figured I had probably taken a step too far or too fast and either embarrassed or annoyed her. There wasn't all that much to do about it if that was the case and I was just beginning to get a little sleepy when she came back. I felt a light tap on my shoulder and looked up to see Diana batting her eyelashes at me.
"I don't suppose I could interest you in some wine," she said, leaning towards me and speaking quietly as though plotting a conspiracy.
"How much?"
"It's on me."
"Well, if you would be so kind. I hate to do it to you, though."
"Don't worry about it," she said, pouring a glass. She even poured one for herself after she put away the cart. She sat down, crossing her legs elegantly and taking a sip of wine.
"You're allowed to do that?" I asked, gesturing at the glass.
"No more snack service this flight. Nobody's gonna notice."
I laughed and took a sip.
"So, if I might ask, where are you from?" I said.
"I'm from Richmond. And you?"
"That's where I'm from too."
"Wonderful," she said with a smile.
"Do you like it?"
"It's a nice city. It's the only city I've ever lived in, so I couldn't compare so well. I like the area."
"So what do you like to do?
"I like to read books. It's a habit I got being on airplanes and all."
"Good way to pass the time."
"It's a good habit and I wish I'd read more earlier. But it is a rather solitary thing," she said with a sigh.
"Yeah."
"I do the usual things. You know, watch movies, surf the web, shop...
"Ah, shopping..."
"More looking than buying. I like to think I know my way with money."
"Money?" I was always looking for talent in my line of work.
"I do some investing, some trading. Makes a little money on the side, right?"
"Right,"
"And you... are you married?"
"No, why?"
"You're not wearing a ring," she commented.
"I'm 25, too early..." I said.
"Yeah, best to get your career stabilized, right?"
"That's part of it..."
"It makes sense."
She looked at me with a look that was almost too serious.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
"Thanks so much," she whispered.
"What did I do?"
"Talk to me. Nobody ever talks to me except to ask me for something around here."
"Oh, no problem. And they really are missing out."
"I'm flattered." she said, smiling a little.
