Page 58 of Something Like Summer
“So I take it you’re stillin college?” Jace asked.
“Yeah, up at ColumbiaCollege in Chicago.”
“How do you likeit?”
Ben shrugged. “It’s allright.”
“I couldn’t wait to getout,” Jace said. “The only good thing about college was having fourextra years to figure out what I wanted to do.”
“I didn’t know flightattendants went to college,” Ben said, considering too late how itmight sound, but Jace didn’t appear offended.
“It’s not a requirement.It’s just that-- Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?What’s your major?”
“I have no idea,” Benchuckled. “It changes on a daily basis.”
“There you go. Payingtuition is just an expensive way of buying time.”
“So I take it you didn’talways want to be a stewardess?” Ben taunted.
Jace smiled. “I originallywanted to be a nurse.”
“That’s cool. What changedyour mind?”
“I started to doubt thatI’d be able to handle the job emotionally. In the long term iteither depresses you or you become numb. I didn’t like the idea ofeither happening.”
“Hm.” Ben eyed the platesof the other diners, impatient for his own to arrive. “Can I askyou a very direct question without you getting mad atme?”
Jace cocked an eyebrow.“Sure.”
“How come flightattendants always act so pissy?”
“Was I so terrible toyou?” Jace laughed. “No, I know what you mean. The reason we act alittle, uh, irritable sometimes is because people misunderstand ourjob. Everyone thinks that we’re the waiters and waitresses of thesky, when we’re not.”
“You’re not?”
“Not at all. Our primaryduty is to ensure the well-being of the passengers. There are anumber of safety checks and procedures that we are responsible for,and I don’t just mean the emergency demonstration that everyoneignores. Ensuring the health and safety of every passenger is aflight attendant’s primary function. It’s much more than just foodservice, and there are a great number of unsung heroes who havesaved lives because of the skills required for theposition.”
“Wow.” Ben had to respectJace’s passion for his job. “I didn’t know that.”
“The first-ever stewardesswas a nurse,” Jace continued. “Ellen Church. Before her there wereonly stewards, and they really were just errand boys. Ellen Churchrealized that a nurse had a number of skills useful in anemergency, and the rest is history. Reading her story is what mademe want to be a flight attendant. That, and the travel.”
Plates appeared on thetable, barely noticed through the conversation. Jace spoke moreabout his job and the long miles involved before asking about Ben’slife and discussing the different possible options for his future.Ben had never dated someone as old as Jace, and he was finding thestability of his life comforting. Guys around his own age were justas confused as he was about the future. Jace had figured out whatto do with his life, something Ben admired greatly.
They talked for hours, evenafter the food had disappeared, until Ben announced that he had tomake his way home. Jace paid, citing that it was a crime to expecta college student to afford anything, and drove Ben back to hisparents’ car. They stood beside the vehicle, making small talk asthey both wondered how the goodbye would work.
“This is no place for afirst kiss,” Jace said, gesturing to the grey landscape of theparking lot. “You could come home with me, meet thecat.”
“Not on the first date,”Ben smiled.
“Nothing has to happen,”Jace said easily.
“Trust me,” Ben grinned,“if I get you somewhere private, somethingwillhappen.”
“Well, well! I guess thatmeans I get to see you again?”
“How about Thursday?” Benoffered. Sooner would have been fine, but he felt it best to play alittle hard to get.
“It’s a deal,” Jaceagreed. “Look, I’m kissing you tonight, but I refuse to do it here.Just follow me in your car for a minute and I promise I’ll let yougo home afterwards.”
