Newsgroups: alt.romance.chat
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:38:47 -0500 
From: "Francis J. Yenca" <fy03+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: A truly romantic story, Part 7
	<BzA0IM.GI1@ecf.toronto.edu>
	<kf=cK=e00WC0EQb1VP@andrew.cmu.edu>

Joe and Renee taxi away from the parking area of Limerick Airport.
He is looking over some maps for the first part of their trip and she is 
simply excited.  Suddenly the plane turns and Renee exclaims,  "Hey,
how did you do that?" (Joe, still looking down at the map was not
perturbed.)

"On the ground, you steer the airplane with your feet."<matter of
factly>

They reach the end of the runway, Joe goes through the pre- takeoff
checks, and they ride onto the runway.  He eases the throttle to full
power and they begin to roll down the runway.  In a few seconds, they 
are airborne.

Renee (slapping herself)  "Is this really happening?"

Joe is suddenly alarmed.  The haze he had seen to the south is much
worse than he expected.  "Should I turn back?" he thinks.  "No, there
is too much planned.  I'll just go a little further and see what happens."

He turns the airplane on its intended heading (west south west) and 
dials in the next navigation radiobeacon.  Visibility ahead of them is 
terrible.  "Renee, I have a job for you.  Can you look out for other 
airplanes?"  She nods excitedly.

Joe steers the airplane on course and estimates the visibility.  "Well, it's
about five miles, which is still VFR.  I am still legal, but I wish we didn't
have to fly toward the sun."

Renee interrupts his thoughts.  "Where are we going?"

"We're going to dinner.  But I am not sure that we're going to make it 
there.  I promised that I wouldn't fly after dark.  I'm allowed to, but it's
better if I don't"

"We're going to dinner!  We're going to dinner!"

They fly on for about a half hour.  The sun is nearing the horizon.

"Joe, we're not going to make it all the way to Pittsburgh before the
sun sets.  Look, there's a plane"

"Where?  Oh, I see it.  Thanks.  Well, then I guess we're not going to 
Pittsburgh."

"Where are we going?"

"Dinner."

"Where?"

"Of all the places you could pick where would you like to go to dinner?"

<excited and sheepish look>"Are we going to Berkeley Springs?"

"Is that where you want to go?"

<vigorous nod>

"Well, then I guess that's where we're going."

"Really?  We're going to Berkeley Springs?"

"Mmmm- hmmm"

Joe checks his map and changes his navigation radio to the Hagerstown
VOR.  He has been flying at a low altitude to keep sight of the ground.  
However, the map shows that there are some low mountains ahead.  He 
increases their altitude to 3000 feet.  In a few minutes, he radios the 
Hagerstown tower.  They give him clearance to enter their airspace.

J:"We won't make it to Potomac Airpark before dark and I think it will 
be hard to find.  We'll have to rent a car at Hagerstown to get to Berkeley 
Springs."

R:"I don't care."

J:"Just remind me to call the Inn to tell them that we won't be there to 
be picked up."

R:"Okay."

J:"By the way, I don't want you to be dissappointed.  I couldn't get a place
to stay at the Inn.  They were full, so we'll be staying at a bed and 
breakfast."

R:"That's okay.  We're together and that's what counts."

J:"Yeah, it's not what you do, it's who you do it with.  Hey, can you see a 
beacon?"

R:"No."

J:"Well, that's Hagerstown."<night has fallen and a small city has lit
up beneath them>

Joe calls the tower and explains his position.  They direct him to the
airport and give him clearance to land.  Joe approaches the runway and
reduces the throttle.  

R: "What happened?"

J:"We're landing.  It's okay."

R:"I don't like this."

Joe executes a wonderfully smooth landing.  The tower directs him to the
general aviation area and he parks the plane.  "By the way," he asks Renee
as she is getting out of the plane, "what are you going to wear to dinner?"

She indicates her sweatshirt and blue jeans.

J:"Maybe you better look in that bag."

R:"I don't see anything."<it was dark by now>

J:"Keep looking."

R:"It's my outfit!  You bought it!  Hey, I thought you didn't like this!"

J:"Yeah, but you like it.  That's what counts.  By the way...I forgot shoes.
You'll still have to wear your tennis shoes."<sheepish grin>

They unpack the plane and walk to the office.  The young woman calls 
the lineman to tie down the plane and refuel it.  First, however, he drives
Joe and Renee to the rental car area.

They rent a car and driving the thirty miles from Hagerstown, MD to 
Berkeley Springs, WV.

R:"I have to be back by tomorrow night because I'm on call 8AM 
Sunday."

J:"No, you're not on call until 3PM."

R:"No, I'm on call at 8AM."

J:"No, you're not on call until 3."

R:<realization>"You changed my call schedule?  How did you do 
THAT?  Who's taking my call?"

J:"Anne."

R:"She can't.  She's on call at the same time."

J:"Well, some other people are switching too.  You're not on call 
until 3."

R:"You're amazing!"

J:"Anne did it.  It was just my idea."

They drive into Berkeley Springs and find the Manor Inn.  (the 
bed and breakfast)

Their host takes them for a tour of the house and shows them to 
their room.  They have just enough time to get ready for their
dinner reservations at 9:45PM.
Newsgroups: alt.romance.chat