Love is in the Air

The aeroplane was full and Richard was one of the last to board.
 He scanned the aisle quickly and discretely taking in all the young women. There was a hen party sitting near the front, all wearing bunny outfits, whispering and giggling to each other. As he entered they fell silent, looking up at him with admiring glances. Then as he passed they broke into excited chatter and he caught the words, famous, actor and hot.
Richard wanted to punch the air and shout out loud. He always got a kick out of being mistaken for an actor, usually it was Jude Law.

He was more and more convinced that all females were ridiculous and he felt the sweet thrill of revenge whenever he got admiring glances. As a spotty teenager with his National Health glasses and his braces on his teeth, they'd all made fun of him and called him 'Spotted Dick', well he was getting his own back now.
All it took was an expensive Italian silk suit , a pair of designer sunglasses and they sat up straighter and tossed their hair.
He swung his new briefcase up into the overhead locker and slid into his seat.
 He always chose the aisle seat. Not for him idly looking out of the window at the green fields of his home and  the English channel waiting to catch a glimpse of the French coast.  He wanted to give the impression that he was a man with important business.
 Something tickled his face and he looked up to see something pink and fluffy fly over from the seat in front.  One of the hen party peered at him from the row in front, she was very flushed and she stared at him with enormous blue eyes.

'Excuse me asking, but are you that man who's in the film about the you know that film',

 There were giggles from her friends and she faltered.
He looked at her from over his dark glasses and ran his hand through his blonde hair.

'I don't mind you asking but you'd better put your seat in the upright position. '

There was a snort of laughter from the girl on her right.
He relished in the power that his looks gave him and leant back in his seat. The centre seat was vacant and for the first time he became aware that a young woman was sitting in the window seat and had turned to look at him. She smiled at him, warm and inviting and he took in her long glossy hair, perfectly made up face and generous cleavage. Richard shook his arm to display his expensive watch and saw the interest in her eyes increase.

 The moment the seat belt signs were off his table came down and he bent over his Ipad. The young woman next to him leant back in her seat and let her skirt ride up exposing a lot of smooth, tanned thigh. She slid a small white card onto the empty seat. He knew what that meant, but the girls in front were making him feel uncomfortable and he decided to wait. He hunched over his I pad and looked at his emails. There was one from his friend Paul, moaning on and on about the sleepless nights with the new baby, how Joanna had no time for him and he was beginning to feel like a monk. Richard smiled to himself. he couldn't understand why any man would want to get married. He had everything he needed. He took his clothes to the drycleaners, ate out in restaurants or bought take-aways, had a cleaner in twice a week and for any more  basic needs he went to the ' Pussy Galore' or merely encouraged young women like the one sitting next to him.  Sometimes he felt that maybe they were just nice to him because he was paying and tried to ignore the bored, vacant look in their eyes.

The captain's voice informed them that they were travelling at 29,000 feet and would soon be travelling across Germany then on to Austria and finally Prague.
Richard turned back to his emails. There was one from his colleague Les at the bank where they both worked in the Finance section. Les wanted to , remindi him that there was an abundant supply of beautiful charming women in Prague who would be eager to keep him company. Les said that  he'd been on a Stag weekend there and often you would find them on the plane picking out the men that looked most appealing or waiting for you in a limousine in their underwear raring to go.
 Richard felt some bile rise. He must have eaten something last night, that Chinese chicken had tasted a bit strange.
 Les was married to a nurse Harriet who did a lot of night duties to earn extra money and Les had discovered the 'Pussy Galore' as a way of passing the nights when Harriet was working. Last week they'd gone together and shared a private dance. for some reason it hadn't been so much fun and Richard had even thought the girl looked like a spider crawling all over them.
The hen do girls broke into raucous laughter. He could hear catches of their conversation.
'Oh I love him so much, oh just the thought of him makes me feel warm all over,'

There was more laughter and one of them started to sing ' You're the one that I want.' 

The other girls joined in ' Honey! Ooh ooh ooh.' 

" Oh Emma you are so lucky. I wish I could find someone that I loved and that loved me.'

'I know, I feel lucky. Just think I'll be waking up next to him every morning and kissing him goodnight every night. I do hope I can make him happy.'

One of the girls spoke up, 'He loves you Emma, he's my brother and I know him. He really loves you. He says you're the only girl who makes him laugh and he only ever wants you. My mum says you bring out the best him in and we're all really happy.'

There was silence and then a sob,
'Oh Becky I love you, we're going to be sisters yay!!'

Richard thought of his sister Katie. She was the only reason he didn't hate women altogether.   He didn't think of her as a female, she might as well be his brother. She had protected him  when their mother had run off with the dentist for a new life in Spain and left them with their drunken abusive father. Katie used to come into his bedroom and tell him stories that would make him laugh and forget about the noises coming up the stairs. Katie made him laugh and brought out the best in him.

There was only one other person that had brought out the best in him and made him laugh and that was Sophie Johnson. They had been at school together both in the advanced maths group and neither good at sports, they were considered nerds . Sophie was the only one who never called him Spotted Dick.
 After A levels her family had moved away to Solihull and he'd been too shy to ask for her address.

 Katie was  an Architect and had gone to Prague for a six month work experience exchange. She loved it there and had made lots of friends and he was going to spend the weekend with her. She'd organized a tour of all the beautiful buildings. Maybe he could pick up the girl's visiting card and meet her after he'd seen Katie.

The hen do girls appeared above their seats looking at the drinks trolley which was coming up behind. Richard glanced up at the stewardess and gasped as he saw the name tag Sophie. It couldn't be her, after all these years, just when he was thinking about her. It was too much of a coincidence. There were loads of Sophies. He looked up at her face. It was her.  It must be a sign. Sophie grinned at him.

'Ooh look at you all dressed up like a dog's dinner. It is you isn't it Richard Taylor? What are you, a body guard or something? Or are you going to a stag party  or just trying your luck?'

Richard felt himself redden. He 'd forgotten how much he'd liked Sophie's blunt Northern humour , there was real affection in her voice and pleasure at seeing him. The hen party stood up and stared at him, then sat down giggling. The girl by the window covered her card with her hand.

'Sophie, fancy seeing you here, it's a small world.'

'Well I don't know about that, I've been wishing I'd meet you again ever since we left school. I've tried once or twice on Facebook but couldn't recognize you. I can see why now. But even

With that monkey suit underneath your  fancy specs you've still got the same lovely eyes.'

She gave him a look that made his whole body tense up and a feeling of warm electricity flowed through him.  Sophie touched his arm and caused a tremour of delightful anticipation, something that the girls at Pussy Galore had never done.

Richard took a breath to calm himself down. 'I'm going to see my sister, she's working in Prague.'

The hen girls stood up again and looked at  the trolley discussing whether to have coffee or wine, chocolate or peanuts.

' Tell you what Richard, I've got an overnight stay in Prague. If you like I could show you and Katie the best beer garden in town.'

Richard felt like he'd come to a crossroads, he was being given a chance, something special was happening . There was magic in the air. If he took the girl's card he was sure of company for the night. If he accepted Sophie's offer he might be getting company for a life time. He just might be able to have what the hen party were talking about, someone who made him laugh and brought out the best in him.

Sophie was busy handing out the drinks and snacks to the girls. Richard loosened his tie and undid the top button of his shirt. He leaned back in his seat and watched how deftly Sophie served the drinks. There was a calm kindness in her every movement. She met his eyes. He smiled at her and was filled with an intense feeling of joy and deep in his heart a glimmer of hope.

Making Wishes

All through his childhood John had been fascinated by stories about making wishes. He spent a lot of time thinking about the wishes he would make, if he was given the chance: a crock of gold, a white stallion, a magic cloak. His elder brother Colin was always pragmatic, he'd wish for another three wishes straight away so he would have even more wishes. John had never found out what Colin's wishes would be. He couldn't think what Colin may wish: in his eyes, Colin was perfect.

John's favourite wish was that his mother and father would marry again. They'd fall in love  and there would be a big wedding with a huge cake and lots of dancing and laughter. His uncle would make jokes and his mother would smile again.

As he grew up John still diced with chance in different ways. If he took his red pencil case to school then he'd pass his exam. If he walked home through the park then his mother would have made him a nice tea. If he tidied up his bedroom then his father would visit. If he learned to swim then his father would take them on holiday. If the traffic light stayed green then he'd pass his test. If he wore his grey boxers then Felicity Markham would go out with him. If he lost a few pounds and got into the rowing team then she'd want to marry him. If he got a first class honours in his Law degree then Colin would always come back safely from his high risk job working as a diver on the North Sea oil platforms.

It was here that things started to go wrong and John faltered a bit. He got his first class degree and Colin was flown by emergency helicopter from the North Sea and in danger of losing his leg. . They got a telegram saying Colin was in a bad way.
  John went off to visit him straight away. He took grapes, books, chocolates and some of the girly mags that he knew his brother liked so much. If he found a parking space then everything would be all right.

The hospital car park was full. John was determined to find a space, his brother's life depended on it. He waited in the car at the entrance to the car park. He looked down on his lap and was surprised to see his hands clasped tightly together.

He looked up to the sky. 'Please, please, please, let Colin be alright.'

There was a rap on the window.

'If you're waiting for a space mate, I'm on my way out. The red Fiesta over there.'

Encouraged by this answer to his wish John parked the car and grabbed his gifts for Colin and went to find the ward. His phone rang, it was Felicity.

'Just to say I'm thinking of you John, send your brother my love and tell him I'll come next time. It's best that it's just you today.' Her voice changed, excited and joyful she whispered, 'I felt the baby move today , it's a sign.'

As he walked in to the ward John had to try hard not to cry at the sight of his brother. He was all bandaged up and his thick curly hair had been cut  so short you could see his scalp. His remaining leg was in a splint and his arms were limp at his sides. Only when he turned and saw John was there a sign of the handsome man he was. His face lit up with a radiant smile and he struggled to sit up.

'Hey little brother look at you! What great news about you becoming a dad. You'll be the best one ever.'

He sank back on the pillows and a pretty nurse rushed up to steady him.

Colin winked at her and she giggled. John sat down on the chair by the bed.

'You had us worried all right, don't go doing that any more. Here just a few things to keep you going. Felicity asked me to make a list of all the things you need, and she'll come with me tomorrow.'

He popped a grape into Colin's mouth and then took one for himself.

'Felicity's great, you chose well there mate. Tell her I'll be over soon and want one of her special roasts.'

Colin moved his arm and the magazines fell on the floor. The nurse came over to pick them up and when she saw the covers she laughed and carefully placed them next to him. She turned to John,

'You must be the little brother he talks about so much. Nice to meet you. My name's Lisa, you've got a great brother and no need to worry about him he's going to be fine. He's a fighter. I'm going to look after him, personally.'

She gave Colin a look of such tenderness and admiration that John caught his breath. There was an intensity of feeling there that hinted at a lot more than a professional interest.

Hope and relief flooded through John and he knew just how frightened he had been, how much his brother meant to him, how much he had been praying every day all of his life that his brother would be all right, and it was only now he realised it.

'You're on to a good thing there Colin, I think she's got the hots for you. I don't know how you do it with your leg stuck up in the air and bandages everywhere.'

Colin gave one of his wicked grins, 'Not everywhere mate, not everywhere.'

Later that evening when the visitors had left and there was a stillness on the ward Lisa came to Colin and sat by his bed. She took his hand in hers and gently squeezed it.
Colin closed his eyes. He thought of his brother and how all the wishes he had made for him had come true. John had always excelled at school and university and found true love and now was about become a father. He returned the squeeze to Lisa's hand and then opened his eyes and smiled at her.

Maybe he could make a wish for himself now.