They day Ray Van Gelder met Holly they were sitting side by side in first class on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. He is surprised her beauty stuns him, as he has seen, met and dated many attractive women. He guesses his sudden admiration must show on his face; as she looks amused. She expects him to hit on her. That is always the problem of getting to know an attractive woman when there isn’t someone near to make an introduction. No matter what he’ll say she’ll take it as his opening to hit on her and she’ll go on the defensive. If she was married he wishes she’d come right out and say so.

The plane had leveled off and passengers could get up and use the restrooms. He gets up and walks to the cubical where the flight attendant is making drinks. He asks her, “What is the name of the passenger I’m seated with?”

The attendant grins. “She appears congenial. Haven’t you asked her?”

“She’ll think I’m hitting on her.”

“Aren’t you? She’s beautiful.”


“I wish to know if she is married.”
“So you won’t be wasting your time. Well, you’re in luck. She’s a frequent flyer with us. Her name is Holly Day and she is not married. Do I get a tip?”

“Of course. I’ll make love to you tonight at your hotel.”

“Back to your seat Romeo.”

When the attendant served him a drink she found a twenty-dollar bill on her tray.

He returned to his seat and waited for her to glance at him. When she did he asked, “Are you in pain?”

“Why, no. Why would you ask?”

“I hoped you weren’t laughing at the black hairs on the front of my head.”

“Of course, I wasn’t. They look natural.”

“They should. They are real hairs. I’m not wearing a hair piece.”

“I wouldn’t think otherwise. You have a full head of dark hair. Why do you think the hair on the front of your head might look differently?”

“They are transplants. And people laugh.

“Why would they? Science has advanced in so many ways.”

“The hairs weren’t taken from my body. They were donated. We have the same blood type.”

Holly said, “They really have advanced. The match is amazing. Did you pay the donator?”

“No, my wife donated the hairs. All of ‘em. You see them up on the front of my head. People laugh when they learn they were my wife’s pubic hairs.”

Holly’s mouth dropped; she broke out laughing. “My God, I must award you the prize for the best opening hit I’ve ever heard. What’s your name?”

“Ray Van Gelder. I’m not married.”

“I assumed not after hearing your pitch. I work for an analyst. What do you do?”

“Produce active commercials for television and printed pages for magazines and newspapers. If you’re not being met by a lounge of suitors, how about dinner and whatever.”

“Actually no one is meeting me. I planned to relax this weekend. Dinner and whatever is accepted.”

He found the fluffy hair brunette he escorted to dinner had a winning personality. She charmed women and turned men on with her wit and figure. She was a great conversationalist that got him talking more about himself than her. At times he wondered if she had photographic recall, she remembered insignificant details.

They went to a tavern with a band and sipped drinks and danced. He took her home at ten-thirty at her request to retire early after an involved draining day. He walked her to the door of her apartment.

Holly abruptly gave him a kiss on his mouth that didn’t linger to further excite the mating urge. She said, “I’d invite you in Ray, but you would accept.”

“I obviously need more practice hiding lust.”

“If you didn’t desire me I’d be upset. But true gentlemen hide such urges until invited. I’m sure you know when a girl has signaled you.”

She kissed him again and went inside smiling.

He phoned her the next day and made a date.