I was new to the Irvine Diamond Co. And since I was the new guy I got most of the 'shit jobs'. So it was no surprise that I got to play delivery boy and take a shipment of jewelry to a client from Mexico. My contact was a dealer located in El Paso.TX. Now at this time there were no direct flights from NYC to El Paso. A person had to go to Houston then take a local carrier to San Antonio from there to El Paso.
Things went smooth until I got to Houston. I had spent a pleasant time in flight talking to a pretty young lady sitting next to me.She said her name was Terry (Theresa) that's all she'd tell me I didn't blame her, after all I was a stranger to her then. She was also headed to El Paso she said it was to visit her father, so I left it at that.Terry was a good lookn' girl with short brown hair and a trim figure and the darker skin that was so common in this part of Texas. I was pretty happy when we both boarded the same flight,I carefully selected a seat next to her so i could continue my conversation with her.And also it would give me more time to 'put the moves' on her.
As the plane took off Terry laid her hand on top of mine,by the way she was gripping me hand I could tell that she was not a seasoned air traveler.At least that's what I thought at the time.when we were airborne i asked, "Could I please have my hand back now?"
"OH! So sorry!"Terry stamered. " I guess I got kind of carried away."
" Forget it. Flying can be a little 'stressful' to say the least. And it's not often that I get to hold hands with a pretty girl."
Terry blushed at that remark,and apologized again,then she added,"Thanks for being understanding."
About twenty minutes into the flight the captain's voice came over the speaker."We are having a slight problem with one of our engines.We'll be landing in Victoria for repairs. We apologize for the delay and hope to have the problem fixed in a short time."
If you look at a map it's easy to see that Victoria,TX. is just about as far away from El Paso as a person can get and still be in the same state.Plus Victoria is not a big place.We landed at an air strip that looked like it serviced only crop dusters,and an occasional smuggler.There were a few tin hangers,a control tower,and a terminal with a few vending machines. needless to say things weren't looking good.After we deplaned we spent the next hour or so just passing the time and in general trying not to get too personal.It seemed that Terry and I were just passengers on a delayed flight. Curiosity finally got the best of me and ,and as the stewardess (that's what they called 'flight attendants' then) passed by I asked what had happened
" The parts we needed to repair the engine could not be secured locally. They are en route by truck from Houston. When they arrive repairs will be made quickly."
I relayed this to Terry who mentioned that coming from Houston by truck would take some time,and making repairs would be time consuming even if this small airfield had a qualified mechanic.I thought this over for a while and in true manly fashion began to think with my stomach,
"In that case,I think it would be wise to try to find some where to get food. These vending machines just don't make it. Terry will you join me,my treat of course." A quick look thru the phone book helped us find the one and only taxi service in Victoria. We interrupted the drivers TV show when we called. " The airfield OK,got it,but where to?" I explained that we were just looking for a place to eat. "OH! I see well maybe I can come up with an idea in the meantime you sit tight and I'll be there in about ,10 mins." Terry had relaxed quite a bit,I guessed that the circumstances of our situation had caused her to see me a different way then before. When the taxi arrived we were met with the stereotypical country bumpkin. Short sleeved cowboy shirt,coveralls,red ball cap the only thing missing was the straw to chew on. But Jerry Earl (that was the name he gave was an open and friendly guy completly lacking the surly nature of so many of the cabbies in the 'Big Apple'. " I been thinkn' on the way here about places ta eat.It 'pends a lot on whatcha like.White Kitchen 's OK but maybe a littlecountrified for you 'city folks. An' they's Bonita Inn if you like Mes'cn food an' don't care 'bout what you might ketch.An' course they's Dairy Queen an 'Whataburger."
" I've actually heard of Whataburger,can't remember where but I do remember that the article said they were pretty good. How about it Terry not exactly a romantic place but this is extreme survival." "That sounds OK to me.Even El Paso has one of those." "Whataburger it is then! Jerry you heard the lady on to the Whataburger!"
When we got to the Whataburger I offered to buy Jerry something but he declined, "You guys go on and take your time. I'm gonna git me a sodie at the drive-thru and I'll be awaitn''in the parkn' "lot.With the meter off." Terry had relaxed completely by the time we had finished.
"I apologize for being so stand offish before it's just that..." I know I',m a stranger and your cautious." "No it's not like that, well not all of it.
You see I don't want to drive you away." "Drive me away! Where would I go?We're in the middle of nowhere without a plane! You're stuck with me like it or not! I guess you'd just have to tell me to leave you alone." "Oh I couldn't do that...you've been too nice so far. But i have to tell you the truth." "What sort of truth could you be hiding? Do you have some deep dark criminal past? Come on,out with it "tell the truth and spite the Devil" as my dad used to say."
'Spite the Devil...I like that, it really fits.To start with Theresa is not my full name" "So what's the rest." I demanded, "Sister"she answered "Theresa Sister? Why would that be a secret?" "No you don't get it. I''m Sister Theresa and I'm heading to El Paso to take my final vows before the head of our order,father Diego.
Things went smooth until I got to Houston. I had spent a pleasant time in flight talking to a pretty young lady sitting next to me.She said her name was Terry (Theresa) that's all she'd tell me I didn't blame her, after all I was a stranger to her then. She was also headed to El Paso she said it was to visit her father, so I left it at that.Terry was a good lookn' girl with short brown hair and a trim figure and the darker skin that was so common in this part of Texas. I was pretty happy when we both boarded the same flight,I carefully selected a seat next to her so i could continue my conversation with her.And also it would give me more time to 'put the moves' on her.
As the plane took off Terry laid her hand on top of mine,by the way she was gripping me hand I could tell that she was not a seasoned air traveler.At least that's what I thought at the time.when we were airborne i asked, "Could I please have my hand back now?"
"OH! So sorry!"Terry stamered. " I guess I got kind of carried away."
" Forget it. Flying can be a little 'stressful' to say the least. And it's not often that I get to hold hands with a pretty girl."
Terry blushed at that remark,and apologized again,then she added,"Thanks for being understanding."
About twenty minutes into the flight the captain's voice came over the speaker."We are having a slight problem with one of our engines.We'll be landing in Victoria for repairs. We apologize for the delay and hope to have the problem fixed in a short time."
If you look at a map it's easy to see that Victoria,TX. is just about as far away from El Paso as a person can get and still be in the same state.Plus Victoria is not a big place.We landed at an air strip that looked like it serviced only crop dusters,and an occasional smuggler.There were a few tin hangers,a control tower,and a terminal with a few vending machines. needless to say things weren't looking good.After we deplaned we spent the next hour or so just passing the time and in general trying not to get too personal.It seemed that Terry and I were just passengers on a delayed flight. Curiosity finally got the best of me and ,and as the stewardess (that's what they called 'flight attendants' then) passed by I asked what had happened
" The parts we needed to repair the engine could not be secured locally. They are en route by truck from Houston. When they arrive repairs will be made quickly."
I relayed this to Terry who mentioned that coming from Houston by truck would take some time,and making repairs would be time consuming even if this small airfield had a qualified mechanic.I thought this over for a while and in true manly fashion began to think with my stomach,
"In that case,I think it would be wise to try to find some where to get food. These vending machines just don't make it. Terry will you join me,my treat of course." A quick look thru the phone book helped us find the one and only taxi service in Victoria. We interrupted the drivers TV show when we called. " The airfield OK,got it,but where to?" I explained that we were just looking for a place to eat. "OH! I see well maybe I can come up with an idea in the meantime you sit tight and I'll be there in about ,10 mins." Terry had relaxed quite a bit,I guessed that the circumstances of our situation had caused her to see me a different way then before. When the taxi arrived we were met with the stereotypical country bumpkin. Short sleeved cowboy shirt,coveralls,red ball cap the only thing missing was the straw to chew on. But Jerry Earl (that was the name he gave was an open and friendly guy completly lacking the surly nature of so many of the cabbies in the 'Big Apple'. " I been thinkn' on the way here about places ta eat.It 'pends a lot on whatcha like.White Kitchen 's OK but maybe a littlecountrified for you 'city folks. An' they's Bonita Inn if you like Mes'cn food an' don't care 'bout what you might ketch.An' course they's Dairy Queen an 'Whataburger."
" I've actually heard of Whataburger,can't remember where but I do remember that the article said they were pretty good. How about it Terry not exactly a romantic place but this is extreme survival." "That sounds OK to me.Even El Paso has one of those." "Whataburger it is then! Jerry you heard the lady on to the Whataburger!"
When we got to the Whataburger I offered to buy Jerry something but he declined, "You guys go on and take your time. I'm gonna git me a sodie at the drive-thru and I'll be awaitn''in the parkn' "lot.With the meter off." Terry had relaxed completely by the time we had finished.
"I apologize for being so stand offish before it's just that..." I know I',m a stranger and your cautious." "No it's not like that, well not all of it.
You see I don't want to drive you away." "Drive me away! Where would I go?We're in the middle of nowhere without a plane! You're stuck with me like it or not! I guess you'd just have to tell me to leave you alone." "Oh I couldn't do that...you've been too nice so far. But i have to tell you the truth." "What sort of truth could you be hiding? Do you have some deep dark criminal past? Come on,out with it "tell the truth and spite the Devil" as my dad used to say."
'Spite the Devil...I like that, it really fits.To start with Theresa is not my full name" "So what's the rest." I demanded, "Sister"she answered "Theresa Sister? Why would that be a secret?" "No you don't get it. I''m Sister Theresa and I'm heading to El Paso to take my final vows before the head of our order,father Diego.
