Wauchula, Florida
Congratulations C.J.!
C.J.'s Bio:
C.J. Mouser is a self-syndicated columnist and freelance writer. She writes about everyday life growing up in Texas, and raising kids and livestock in rural Florida. Visit her Web Site at http://www.cjmouser.com or e-mail her at cjmouserinfla@yahoo.com
A Short Wait
Lisa Banks grabbed her bag off the turnstile and cursed under her breath. Leave it to Beth to send a man Lisa had never met to pick her up from the airport. She eyed the crowd, but had seen no sign with her name on it, and no one Lisa would automatically regard as Beth's type.
In high school, Beth had always been attracted to stocky blonde-haired, blue-eyed types, and after scanning the crowd Lisa had seen only one likely suspect, and he was currently enveloped in the affectionate embrace of a willowy redhead.
“Where are you?” Lisa muttered under her breath as she dissected the crowd again. There were only three men; one who could immediately be disqualified as he was probably in his sixties. Or could he be dismissed so easily just based on his age? If Beth fell in love with a sixty-year-old man she would marry him with no qualms. But why had Beth been so secretive on the phone?
“I don't want you to form any opinions beforehand,” she had said.
Lisa had no idea what to expect or who to look for. The crowd was thinning as passengers found their contacts and moved toward the exits. Beth had said “he,” hadn't she? Was it possible that Beth was marrying a woman? Why would Beth assume that Lisa would have some preconceived notion about her intended unless there was something unusual about him or her?
Lisa gave the crowd another cursory glance, looking for a female that might be holding a sign with her name on it, but there was no one. Maybe the groom, whoever he or she may be, was tied up in traffic. Lisa dragged her suitcase to a table at the nearby coffee shop and ordered a latte. She could easily see the gate and when he or she finally arrived Lisa would know immediately. It had been three quarters of an hour since her plane had arrived and there was only one person left waiting aside from her; an older woman who stood nervously by the gate clutching her purse... another sad traveler with no ride.
Suddenly the woman's face broke into a smile, and Lisa turned automatically to see who the recipient of the smile was ... at least her ride had arrived. Lisa watched with fascination as a dwarf approached the woman and she stooped to embrace the man who couldn't have been more than three feet tall. Despite his small stature Lisa noted that he was an extremely attractive blonde with a nice smile.
“I'm sorry I took so long, I needed to find a good parking spot...you know.” The man explained, as the woman stood and brushed her hair out of her eyes.
“That's all right son, but I think she might have missed her flight. I waited like you said, but there's no one left.”
“Are you sure, Mom? Beth'll kill me if she had to take a cab!”
***
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