“You’ve Got Mail”

Author: weather gal

Disclaimer: All are Shed’s – tho Mary’s mine…thanks to Virginia, e-mail is easy.

8:00PM “You’ve got mail” brought a smile.
Always late in person…never late on-line…Helen….how long to work out the whys of you?

“Hiya Nikki, I miss you so much. I know, we agreed…ten days now is better than 2 weeks in July but sweetheart, tomorrow’s your birthday and I’m 2,000 miles away.

I’m the practical one…you say it all the time…and you’re the romantic. You are, you know…very romantic. Do you remember that meal…after my first trip? I was famished, just off the plane…only ten stale peanuts in six hours. You were hungry as well, tho’ not for food. Do you remember? Mary’s Blue Moon Café…almost on the runway…a hangout for air crew during the war? And Mary herself brought over our pints ‘on the house’, she said, her smile a yard wide. ‘You look like you need cooling off!’ You laughed, almost fell off your chair and dragged a delighted 80 something down with you.

How do you do it sweetheart? A new friend made in the blink of an eye. You ordered steamed mussels and when they arrived, swimming in broth, you pointed out in exquisite detail exactly what they reminded you of. One bite, one measly bite of steak, before I threw down twenty quid or was it dollars? And dragged you out of there. Mary laughing, ‘good night ladies…not hungry after all?’ So unfair…

Well birthday girl, I spoke with her last week, oh yeah…she remembers you…

I’ve booked a table at seven, mussels are what she’ll bring you, and a pint. Think of me, as you savour every morsel, and when you’ve finished…if you’re very sweet and ask her nicely, she’ll hand you a surprise I’ve left behind the bar. I love you Nikki…I’ll see you soon.”

You know it’s not been the worst birthday. Mary’s great company. Insisted I sit at the bar. We’ve been swapping war stories. She understands about love and distance…all of that. Showed me a picture of herself and Lily (over forty years they’d had together) doing a knees up on this very bar…a dozen fly boys, singing, tankards raised. Quite a pair!

For afters, she pulls out a cupcake, lights the candle, I make a wish, we both know what it is. I open the card.. for a five year old, she’d sketched in a three…a chubby plane with a cheeky grin.

“Nikki, happy birthday darling…it’s exactly 8PM. Those lights you see out front are a 747 making it’s final approach. Some Whitehall twit insulted China last week, their delegation pulled out. I’m back three days early…who’s not romantic…who can’t keep a secret?

Get yourself over to arrivals, flight 813, don’t keep me waiting, I’m very, very… hungry!!”

I fly – straight out the door, Mary’s belly laugh fainter as I double clutch out of the parking lot.

Helen…? Forty years…sounds about right.

Sounds great - but I think I'l read it agen tomorrow and give a proper opinion - been out drinking tonight

Like I said, I'd read again. Just did, and I was right - it was great.

Hey 289..may I call you that..? No worries..I was approaching Margauritaval myself at the time(yeah that spelling's correct).Cheers

:rofl

WG...
You are some naughty gal, eh....but we luv ya!

Cheers!

Great Short story WG, Thanks! S... :)

Aw shucks ..Virginia..

Sure you can. You call call me whatever you feel like.

> 289
> Lisa
> Lisa289
> Fred if you really want! (Or maybe not!)

then you 289 can call me 2D (Tudy).

Done. Hi 2D !

so where's the rest then?

Thought there was enough there to make a meal...

Hey, Tudy.....:lol:

We are a greedy bunch.... :hug2

Hey bc ...So you are...I've just mailed you the menu for the next course.I'll not mention the death marches you've sent me on... with nary a waterhole on the way...