I plopped into the unforgiving hard shell of the turquoise blue molded plastic chair at a Delta Airlines departure gate at Los Angeles International Airport and released a heavy sigh. Two hours 'til boarding, and a cold beer would be refreshing. A kiosk just across the broad walkway beckoned incessantly but I had to maintain some modicum of self-restraint. The $4.37 per bottle ransom (tax-included) would quickly deplete my available funds. It had been an exhausting vacation emotionally, physically, and financially.
I arrived in the City of Angels just five days ago on the 28th of December. I had planned on going back home to Mississippi for my ten-day Christmas leave from the Mayport Naval Station, but at the last moment a buddy stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base called and invited me over to the left coast for some adult recreation. It was an offer much more appealing than the bland drudgery of sitting at my parents' house and running around with high school friends. I immediately accepted.
The flight from Jacksonville to LA was uneventful; I amassed quite a collection of miniatures before a stop in Dallas and fell into a deep slumber on the final leg. Jeff met me at the airport and laid out our itinerary for the next few days: Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Venice Beach, The Tonight Show, Lakers vs. Celtics at the forum, the Rose Bowl, and Las Vegas were among the highlights. But first things first.
Jeff suggested I get unpacked and relax a little before seeing the sights. I entered my lodgings at the Beverly Hills Hilton and was rewarded with the most pleasant aroma to ever grace my nostrils. I could discern apple blossoms, honeysuckle, and plumeria wafting through my lavish digs, and I wondered if the fragrance was aerosol residue, or if there was an air freshener cached somewhere in the room. A splash interrupted my reverie and my immediate thought was that the adjoining door to Jeff's room was ajar. I deposited my sea bag on the somewhat wrinkled queen-sized bed and moved to investigate. The adjoining door to port was shut and locked, but the head to starboard was not.
Candles adorned every imaginable flat surface, and provided not only the light but also a warmth contrasting sharply with the air-conditioned chill of the bedroom. I had located the source of the intoxicating scent that permeated my temporary quarters.
"I was wondering if you were going to find me," came the voice from the goddess rising to her feet in the frothy tub. I was rendered speechless. She stood about 5'8", weighed around 125 pounds and had shoulder length wavy hair that reminded me of the colour of honey. My mouth hung agape and the bewilderment mounted as she purred, "Don't worry, if you're Mike, you're in the right room."