Page 6 of Forever Flustered

“Which you should absolutely come,” Abbykins volunteered, interrupting again.

“Too soon,” Harley shot back, chuckling. “You’re too eager.”

“Eager for what?” Maureen asked as Abbykins spoke up again – the two were obviously having a conversation between the two of them that she was not privy to.

“Girl, please – nothing beats Glory or Sunny…”

“True that…”

“Who?” Maureen asked pointedly as if to say, ‘I’m still here and still confused’.

“Never mind,” Abbykins volunteered. “You meet the one, and it will be like seeing a mirror whenever the other shows up again. She’s currently in ‘Bama with her husband and Vapor.”

“Water vapor?”

“Vapor-Vapor,” Abbykins chuckled. “Don’t worry – the call signs will feel like second nature soon enough. Trust me, I had a problem with Hot Cakes, and now it’s like second nature. Alpo, Armadillo, Firefly…”

“Met him,” Maureen admitted and paused, “And Inferno.” Both women immediately groaned – rolling their eyes in agreement.

“That’s not the impression of Flyboys anyone needs to start with.”

“Tell me about it,” Harley muttered. “What does Elena see in him?”

“Can I be crude?”

“No – my daughter repeats everything, and I already know,” Harley replied tersely, looking nauseated as Maureen gaped. “I’d like to think that an attorney has a little bit better sense than that, but maybe he makes her laugh?”

“Are we making dick jokes again?”

“Abby!” Harley hissed - and then shushed them both.

“What happened to ‘Abbykins’?” Maureen asked pointedly. “Do you go by ‘Abby’ or ‘Abbykins’?”

“Well, when Glory is around…” Abbykins began, and a blonde woman practically collided into her as she slid into a seat, crashing into a brown-haired woman and bumping Maureen.

“I heard my name – are you the newbie?”

“Yes,” Harley and Abbykins said in unison.

“No,” Maureen replied and then looked at them in alarm. “Wait - I’m the newbie?”

“You scream ‘Newbie’,” Glory replied, winking at her. “So, do ya think he’s hot? He’s got that whole stick-in-the-mud attitude, which is a nice change from his brother, because oh-em-gee, Sidewinder is toxic. He’s like gargling with…”

“Don’t say it or give anyone any ideas – Flyboys doesn’t have that kind of insurance liability.”

“Pshaw – everyone knows I’m joking; besides, doesn’t it become survival of the fittest then? It worked for some fancy-schmancy doctor on an island… I think it was called the Slap-a-hose Islands - which I am never going to.”

“Galapagos.”

“Same thing.”

“Not exactly the same thing.”

“You can give cool-sounding ideas, but that doesn’t mean it works out. It’s like saying ‘flying is easy’ – and that’s true. Flying is easy and enjoyable…”

“You hate flying.”

“I hate the immediate stop that comes with landing - mixed with finality…”