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#Post#: 3593--------------------------------------------------
The Mermaid & The Albatross
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: February 2, 2024, 11:48 am
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Hope this isn't too long for this section. If it is I can move
it, no worries.
HTML https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7n0XPnv8KP0Z52j4Q8UPU0?si=7686b9207ff24905
"B...Bruce! Pull. Up! I SEE FUCKING TREES!"
Was all he heard from his terrified flight companion turned in
flight entertainment. Her long dark hair was spilling down from
it's plastic hair clip and her aviators were sliding down her
nose as her hands waved wildly at the clear blue sky that
matched her eyes. He couldn't help but grin a slow easy grin at
her. She was truly his fish out of water today.
"Man...you're a mermaid, huh?"
"If I'm a mermaid then you're an albatross!"
The belly of the plane was mere inches from the pristine tree
line as they roared along with the flight path of the local
geese. He had to admit her hometown was a pretty little place.
He'd been born in Chicago, moved around to Indiana as a kid and
then joined up to the Army on his 18th birthday. He'd been in
Florida ever since after he'd come home from his three tours.
The woman to his right was about ten years his junior, an
internationally licensed boat captain named Mary Colleen Murphy,
or Col as she preferred to be called. Currently marveling at the
view her face lit up like a kid at Christmas. He could count
the dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose and the
fact that her eyes were now tinged a little spring green meant
she's calmed down enough to enjoy herself. The fact that they
could simply pack a bag and fly out to her hometown from their
place in the Hatcher Keys blew her mind. To Bruce it was just
another two hour flight that went smoothly.
"I can deal with being a bird. Here's the part you hate..."
He figured ample warning would help settle her stomach. She knew
that the most critical time was during take off and landing, it
still didn't help her body to know not to gag at an angle
normally not achieved.
"I doubt I'll ever get my license. I've a feeling that's not
looked kindly on during the final exam?"
Her dry reassurance to him that she was fine. They were
traveling light this time, just some luggage and gifts for the
family and friends she had to introduce him to. There had been
talk to merging her mother's bar, The Gull's Nest and their
place The Trade Winds but they had yet to put anything into
writing. Minnie was setting to retire and move closer to her own
mother in Miami so it only made sense to keep it in the
family...unless Harvey Starling, Col's god father wanted first
dibs at a turn key operation. Bruce knew Colleen would gladly do
that over taking it over. Even though she lived down south
nearly 1500 miles away she still cared about the town where
she'd grown up.
"BVY tower, N2789 5 miles west, inbound for landing."
The crackle of the controller picking up filled his head.
Whoever it was had a hell of a head cold.
"N2789 you're clear for landing. Welcome to Massachusetts."
"I can't just take it from them, Bruce. The Gull's Nest was
built by my great grandfather when the town was founded. Second
on the waterfront besides the old butcher and green grocer. Did
you know the Starling's used to own that? That's how far back
our families go...oh my god Harvey! Hel's florist shop is right
there...perfect!"
He'd heard her last night as she'd packed for them both. He'd
admitted to her that he didn't have a clue about packing for
cold weather anymore so she had delighted in walking him through
her process and parts of her family's backstory came out as she
carefully rolled his shirts and pants up. She'd learned the
military packing style. Bulky sweaters went on top to act as a
cushion if you were bringing back souvenirs, or in Col's case,
if you were bringing a stash of homegrown herb to share with
your mother and best friends. Deep down his wife really was a
pirate, even if she didn't realize it.
"Who taught you how to pack?"
"Chief Petty Officer James Murphy Sr."
Bruce caught a glimpse of a pirate smile ghost across his
companion's face. All he could picture for a moment was his wife
in a plumed buccaneers hat with a dainty silver dagger between
her teeth. Perhaps he'd just given himself a new tattoo idea.
"He was a Navy man...then he came home became a cop and met my
mom."
"All American boy."
"Guess you could say that. My mother was almost a nun until she
met him."
"Damn beats Mel and Rita's story. She was a barmaid and he was
bootlegger."
"Two sides of the same coin, Miller."
The tidy landing strip was fast approaching as the landing gear
came out. Wheels touched down and all was well. Another one down
in the flight logs.
In their combined down time from the bar they did flight and
boat charters together under the Trade Wind Tours name for the
tourists. They weren't above doing a favor to a friend or two
with flying in goods. Colleen was going to be needed if his
buddy Whit ever gave up his wings. She had also expressed an
interest in doing angel flights for sick and needy children.
"You'd be surprised. My first time I puked out of a bird just
straight up didn't care about anything except not wearing it.
Bulls eye on an enemy from above. I can still see his face...I
still feel bad about that."
"You were under heavy fire in a military war plane. Vastly
different as I'm not open and exposed."
Reaching out to pat his jean clad thigh she sighed.
"You'd be amazed at people can forgive. I'm sure you were the
least of his worries back then. You both just wanted to get
home."
He'd forgotten she'd been a nurse and just how deeply her
compassion ran. He smirked and patted her back as they pulled
upwards
"If it makes you feel better I get sea sick."
A deep chortle sounded in his head that warmed him.
"Always keep above deck where you can see the horizon and get
fresh air or keep to the middle of the boat."
He heard the snicking flick of her lighter.
"You forget we're still in an airspace?"
"Nope. But I figured out my window. Until they come out with a
flameless option I'm sticking with hand rolls. Helps my stomach
and in all honesty I think you may need some when we're on solid
ground. You're wide eyed and your eyebrows are touching your
hairline. I love you, Minnie loves you...my Grandmother loves
you, Harvey and Helene are going to adore you too."
Directing towards the hangar Bruce shook his head.
"The last thing I need to do is meet the town chief of police
smelling like your home grown, Col."
Wide innocent eyes met his as she held out the joint with a
smile.
"But he's my god father...and I know the perfect spot."
Nimble tanned hands rolled two more joints as they were directed
into the proper hangar by the ground crew, a rather elderly
portly white haired fellow wearing safety orange muffs with
'Willy' stitched into his green coveralls. Waving his sticks he
looked almost like a Yankee blue collar ballerina. A thankful
two finger wave and they had some privacy.
"Thanks Willy!"
Colleen called as she hopped out earning a Roebucker smile her
way, Willy's teeth matched his shocking white hair before he
hobbled back into the warmth of the hangar office. Col had
grabbed her small shoulder bag and her flash light before taking
off out of sight. Giving him a bird whistle he saw her crook her
finger from inside what looked like a solid tree line.
"Join me on a side quest brave traveller."
Snow crunched under their feet as he followed Colleen. She
evidently knew exactly where they were going to end up. A
twisting path lead to a rough stone walking path the lead to a
rumbling sound.
"Watch your step here..."
Her left hand reached out to touch a large pine tree with 'HS +
JL' carved into the bark and it made him smile to see her
reconnect with a tangible object from her past. The initials
were newly carved into the bark, especially the JL. From the
look on Col's face HS finally found a love well deserved.
"Where...what...wow."
Looming overhead was a weather beaten lighthouse sitting at the
mouth of the harbor. It's light cutting through the fog that was
setting in. Between the two of them they'd planned the timing
perfectly.
"This is Tortoise Harbor light...or Turtle Point. I've mentioned
it a few times in my stories of home but well...this used to be
our secret spot. Me and Helene Starling. A little birdie told me
that there's still heat in it."
Knocking the snow from their boots they ventured into and up to
the top of the ancient lighthouse on the point. Outside the
winds had picked up and the sound of rain was almost
indistinguishable against the sound of the surf hitting the
rocky coastline.
"We used to come up here all the time watching for our Dads when
they sailed away or came back in. I guess it was our
clubhouse...in some way it still is."
The very top held a battered fold out couch upholstered in a
rather interesting shade of pea soup green and outfitted with
numerous blankets and throw pillows. A handmade three tier shelf
held ancient paperbacks along with a wire spool coffee table
with bar ashtray advertising 'the regal taste of Reinhardt
beer'. tucked to the left hand side by the railing away from the
light. The floor below still held a snug little alcove with a
lamp and a few layered feather beds for the nights that were
especially tough going home.
"We used to have a working kitchen and bathroom downstairs but
that's been boarded up since we were in our 20's. That's the
past though."
Settling herself down onto the couch she sighed before inviting
him to sit down as she lit the joint. He'd have wondered what
she looked like young and carefree and unscarred but she seemed
to bloom before him. Healed and restored. The smell of her
homegrown hit him right between the eyes and he smiled as curled
in next to him. The storm raging outside as they flew higher
together allowing their inner teenagers to bond for the first
time.
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