Traci gripped the armrests until her fingers hurt. Outside the planeâs window was a grayness that appeared to have no beginning or end. The 23-year-old traveler lay her head back against the headrest and shut her eyes as the aircraft rocked in every direction.
âGod, I hate flying in the winter,â she said softly in the undeniable tone of a non-frequent flyer.
âMe, too. Weâll be down in five minutes.â The voice beside Traci was reassuring. But, the woman who uttered the words clung to her magazine with moist palms.
âYes, but in one piece?â Traci asked.
Both women laughed nervously. The friend Traci had made on the long flight, Pam, was a 28-year-old saleswoman for a clothing store. She was on her way to Chicago for a meeting, while Traci was being sent for corporate training. The landing in St. Louis that they were presently experiencing was for a one-hour layover.
Pam pointed to the window.
âThere. Weâre out of the clouds now. Just a couple more minutes,â she said.
Traci peered out at the buildings barely visible through the snow. Wind continued to buffet the plane as the ground rose toward her. Finally, she saw the lights at the end of a parallel runway. Then the gray surface of a runway under the window. Snow blew across it in a blur.
The planeâs wheels struck the pavement violently, but somehow comfortingly. In the rear of the plane someone applauded.
Pam looked at Traci. The girlâs eyes were shut again. Her mouth moved but no words came out. Pam smiled and patted Traciâs hand.
âYou can breathe now,â Pam said, sliding the magazine into the flap on the back of the seat ahead of her.
âI may need a lot of drinks before we get to Chicago,â Traci said. She looked out the window one more time as the plane taxied. âJesus, look at it snow. It would be pretty if we werenât inside this damn plane.â
Pam chuckled. âYou need to relax. And donât buy those drinks in the terminal. It will cost you a fortune.â
A few minutes later the women were standing in front of a bank of monitors displaying arrivals and departures.
âI donât believe it. I justâŚdonâtâŚbelieve it,â Traci muttered.
They stared up at the line of type that read, âAmerican Airlines, 516, 2:30 p.m., Chicago OâHare, CANCELLED, A16.â
âCâmon. Iâm buying,â Pam announced. Traci followed her new companion as they headed down the corridor. She caught back up just as they reached the lounge.
They dropped their carry-on luggage on the floor under a small, square table and sat. Dejected looks crossed their faces as they waited for a waitress. Eventually, they ordered.
âIâm gonna check for later flights. How about you?â Traci asked with a questioning glance across the table.
âWe can try. But, if they shut everything down at OâHare it probably wonât do any good. It could be a while,â Pam said.
She went on to explain to the less-traveled Traci how the temporary shutting down of OâHare has a domino effect on flights all over the country.
Their drinks arrived and Pam did, indeed, pick up the hefty tab.
âThanks, Pam. I owe you.â
âNo problem,â Pam said.
They drank leisurely while watching the bustle of people in the terminal. At the same time, men in suits seated throughout the lounge were watching them. Traci was a tall, lean girl with dirty blonde hair who fell into the dreaded âcuteâ category. She found it did little for her sex life and did her more harm than good in the business world. Pam was a brunette with neat, short hair and an innocent plain look that worked well for her in selling to other females.
They both wore comfortable pants suitsâTraci with a buttoned blouse and Pam with a turtleneck. They were dressed for relaxed travel, not to be fashionable.
Pam talked about her husband of five years and how they planned to raise a family when she turned thirty. Traci sensed that Pam was bored at home. This could have been caused by her constant traveling or the simple fact she and her husband werenât the greatest match.
Pam perceived Traci to be a fun loving, rather naĂŻve new entry into the business world who wasnât ready to settle down soon. All in all, she liked the younger girl and found her entertaining.
What Pam didnât know about Traci was that she enjoyed women as much as men, in and out of bed. What Pam didnât know about herself was that suppressed feelings about other women would someday surface.
She realized long ago that her sales presentations to female buyers were more energetic if the person across the table was attractive. Sheâd never sat on the plane after such a meeting wondering what sex with the woman would be like. But, she felt moreâŚat ease.
Pam felt that way about Traci in the couple of hours they had known each other. Now they faced the dilemma of finding a way to Chicago as quickly as possible.
âWell, letâs go see what we can do,â Pam offered.
âYeah. I guess.â Traci appreciated Pamâs take-charge attitude. She was now very glad they had met.
A trip to the airline ticket counter and subsequent wait in line provided the expected results. There were no flights available to Chicago and probably wouldnât be for the rest of the night. They could wait it outâŚor find another way to get there. Both quickly ruled out the latter.
Traci stared down at the carry-on bag at her feet and thought silently.
âI really donât have any desire to sleep in one of those chairs at a gate,â she whined. âI think Iâll find a room nearby.â
âIf you do that, thereâs a Holiday Inn about a mile awayâŚwith a shuttle. Iâve used it,â Pam suggested.