Page 1 of Soaring and Saucy

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STEPHANIE

Louisville, Kentucky

“We’re doing it – and I’m not taking ‘NO’ for an answer, Steph.”

Stephanie looked over at the other teller at the bank and sighed. This was probably the best and worst job in the world, and the only reason she stayed was because her friends tried so hard to draw her out of her shell.

“Not this again, Natalie.”

“Uh, yes – we are absolutely talking about this again,” her friend said in open frustration, looking at her… and then Lila’s head popped out over her shoulder.

“Told you she’d back out.”

“I’m not letting Steph back out.”

“She’s backing out,” Lila sang.

“No, she’s not. Have a little faith in your fearless leader.”

“Some leader…”

“Lila!”

“What?” Lila blurted out, laughing. “Steph, are you coming with us or not? I mean, hello? That weekend is Thunder over Louisville, and we’re closed. Caaahhh-looooosed,” she enunciated, drawing out the word. “We literally have an unexpected three-day weekend, and three ‘single-and-ready-to-mingle’ ladies could have a little fun out of town.”

“Y’all should go,” Stephanie smiled nervously. “I don’t want to hold you back. You know I clam up when it gets busy or crowded. Remember last year when we went to Waterfront Park for the concert?”

Both women got knowing expressions and said in unison, “Ohhhhh” – which did not make Stephanie feel any better. They had been dancing, having a great time, and she had been sitting at the back of the crowd on a picnic blanket with a homeless man who said she looked like his daughter— for two hours.

A police officer walked by, rescuing her by telling her to take her things and go to a local shelter. The officer had assumed she was a vagrant, too. Ouch. Yeah, her fragile ego could not take another hit like that one. It was so hard being… me, she thought wretchedly.

Plain brown hair, simple brown eyes, too thin lips, and then Fate decided to up her game, giving her a mole on the end of her nose, making it come to a point – on an already too pointy nose. Yeah, compared to Lila and Natalie, she felt dowdy.

There was a saying that if everyone else was having a grand time in the crowd, then you were definitely the third wheel watching their purses, their seats, the blanket, whatever… and she did.

They certainly didn’t mean it that way, but Stephanie just kinda fell into that role easily because she wasn’t a partygoer, she wasn’t a wild one, nor did she get as much attention as her friends – who were simply gorgeous.

“Look,” Natalie said in a hushed voice, looking at her. “The three of us are going, and that’s final. We fly out Thursday night, we’ll share a hotel room, have fun Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – and then fly in late Sunday night so we can be back to work on Monday. I’ve got it all planned out.”

“You have to come with us,” Lila whispered excitedly. “Come on, it’s Fleet Week, and we are going to be surrounded by sailors in uniform who are ready to have some fun. There will be shopping, tours, we can go to a museum…”

“Bars and nightclubs,” Natalie interrupted as both women looked at Stephanie, smiling brightly. “I’ll buy the drinks, but just come with us.”

“You know I don’t drink.”

“Which is why I’m offering. Hellooo? Cheap date.”

Stephanie sighed heavily as her shoulders slumped. Maybe she could go see a museum or Central Park – it wasn’t like anyone was going to assault her or be a threat. Besides, it would be nice to get out of town away from all the chaotic traffic of that weekend. Half the city would shut down for the massive fireworks display, and she didn’t want to be in any of that mess.

Going to Derby with the girls three years ago, having infield tickets, was enough to get her to steer clear of any events surrounding the ‘Fastest Two Minutes in Horse Racing.’ Yeah, it would be nice to escape at least once because then it wasn’t back-to-back weekends confined in her little apartment. It would only be once, and then the season was over.

“How much are the tickets?” Stephanie sighed – and both girls rushed her, hugging excitedly.

“They are fifty-nine bucks each way, carry-on bag only. I’m getting the booze and food all weekend. You get the cab fare to-and-from the airport. Lila is getting the hotel room because she’s got points to burn up and we’re going to stay in a snazzy section of town not too far from the harbor where all the ships will be parked.”

“Docked,” Stephanie corrected, smiling. “Ships don’t park, they dock.”

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