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What were the odds of me being seated next to Maris?

34thparallel.substack.com

What were the odds of me being seated next to Maris?

34MAG
Aug 10, 2021
Share this post

What were the odds of me being seated next to Maris?

34thparallel.substack.com

Ms Willowy leaned my way. “Excuse me,” she said, “but haven’t we met before?” Fat chance, I thought. Ms Willowy might have at least dangled a gratuitous hint, like maybe “in junior high?” or “that time in Timbuktu?” But as no clue was forthcoming and coquetry didn’t seem to be her jam, I concluded she must be sincere yet uncertain.

MS WILLOWY BY CLAYTON VAN HOOK 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 88

Folding six-feet-four into a coach seat on a flight bound for LAX I tried meditating my half-century-old legs into believing sitting ramrod on the aisle for four hours would be a corrective for my habitual slouchiness.

Seconds before the plane doors closed a long-branched woman provided momentary relief as I stood to give her access to the window seat. After climb-over Ms Willowy ordered sparkling water and I went for twist-top chardonnay.

From somewhere behind a man’s voice pealed, “Fiona is a slut!”

“Jackson,” came a female’s dulcet retort. “Your sister is not a slut. Fiona is a whore.”

Ms Will…

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