Thursday 16 June 2011

6th Challenge Romantic Friday Writers


OK, this week's theme is Up Up & Away.

This piece written tonight is dedicated to the RAF Red Arrows Air Display Team.
A touch of romance added, of course!


Cell-phone to ear, the kettle steaming, and a cup of coffee next on her main agenda, Maggie exclaimed, “You are joking?”
       “No,” came the reply. Mac sounded exasperated in extreme. “Dave said, to tell you to get down here as soon as you can.”
       “But why?”
       “I hate to say it, but his exact words were, tell her to hot-foot pedal to metal, or I won’t be home tonight. It’s her call.” 
       “Shit  . . . I didn’t mean it, didn’t mean what I said this morning.”
       “Ummm. Well  . . . Go to hell kind of rankles us blokes. Believe it, his low fly exercise today was less up up and away and more akin to scything grass than I’d care to see for a second run tomorrow.” 
       “That bad, huh?”
       “Yeah, so do us all a favour and cheer him up before he clips his wings first thing.”
       “I’m on my way.”

                                                       * * *
      
What in hell was going on?  She clamped her hands to ears. The blast of jet engines deafening as the whole team of scarlet red aircraft lifted off the runway and soared almost vertical. The lead aircraft, Dave’s, arced to left; the others following seconds apart in timed formation, each falling away to perform a specific manoeuvre.
      Eyes glued to the lead plane she watched it dip, then soar upward leaving a short blast of red coloured taper in its wake. I
     A second and third aircraft performed L
     Fourth aircraft a circle O
    Within seconds I Love You in red, white, and blue hovered above the airfield. 
    Then came a low fly past, really low with intermittent dipping of lead aircraft’ wings before it turned to come in to land.
     Mad fool, didn’t he realise she loved him, too?
     She waited while the aircraft taxied back, parked up, and all pilots shimmied down from their cockpits. 
     Amidst much laughter Dave calmly removed his flight helmet and approached her a big grin on his face,   “Right, that’s my line. What’s yours?”
      “Will you marry me?”
      “At last,” he said, arm coiling around her waist in python-like grip, “thought you’d never ask.”
      “You’re supposed to do the asking.”
      “What, and get my head bitten off for pressuring you.”
      “Kiss me, sexy,” oozed purr-like.
      “Now this new you, I like. Like a lot.”
       “So kiss me.”
      
     Word count 397


To see other participants entries pop over to RFW for the linky list.






10 comments:

Kerrin said...

very romantic!

The Poet said...

Hello Francine. How are you?
Smiling...now this is my kind of story...love & romance up in the skies...nice! You did get me in the beginning though (I thought something awful had happened).

I've seen these displays on the TV & I'm always amazed at the talent & skill of the pilots, but I've also seen what can happen when stunts don't go as planned. One has to be a risk taker to do that kind of job!

My hats off to Dave...he'll go far in love (smile).

Nice dedication to the RAF Red Arrows Air Display Team!

tarunima said...

smiling..
That was so sweet:)
i agree with andy, even i thought that something really bad had happened in the beginning but in the end it turned out to be beautiful:)

Margo Benson said...

Awww....I love stories like this! Some intrigue, some danger and a wonderful romantic ending. Made me smile!

dolorah said...

Awesome Francine. I loved it. I have a special place in my heart for fighter planes - the USAF Thunderbirds specefically.

This really pulled at my heart strings :)

.......dhole

andymac89 said...

I've seen the red arrows a few times and love them. It's great if you imagine yourself in the plane! :-S Great write here - beautiful.

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Francine:
They paint the planes red, how cool.

The story is fabulous and I loved how you integrated the theme.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

Kittie Howard said...

Francine, this is purrrfect! Loved how you hooked me on a bit of oh, oh! then carried me to such a lovely ending. And what a great tribute!

Marsha A. Moore said...

Loved your element of surprise, sweeping her away at the end! Fun read!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Kerrin,

You must join in, soon. Enjoy the fun of writing a specific piece to theme or that of excerpt from WIP!
;)

Andy: yeah, I used to live near the Red Arrow Base and knew a few of the pilots (many moons ago). It was often like having one's own private air display and fly past! ;)

Tarunima: I love writing little twists in the tale!

Margo: If it brought a smile I'm happy, too. :)

Donna: A fly girl, eh, as in connection?

Andymac: thanks for comment. Yep, they're worth watching!

Nancy: Sexy red, and dangerous stunts!

Kittie: Yes, I quite imagined how it must be for a pilot to fly as the RA do, if his mind in emotional turmoil!

Marsha: Welcome to RFW, and thanks for comment.