he sensed she liked him right off

he liked being liked by a scientistliked the cut of her jib she studied peregrine falcons for the state

after meeting the first time when she came into the officehe worked with cellphones  if she had to wait to meet with him she took a seat

                 going through the lobby hed see her acknowledged her said I might be a halfhour maybe someone else could helpthough knew the answer

No, no thank you, I’ll wait for you. she smiled large  My day off, I’m in no hurry. he hurried to get to her

he was an affectionate man

                              their familiarity came fast by the third time they met he hugged hercaught her offguard

Didn’t see that coming, what a lousy hug I gave you, may we have another go?   Love to   they were physically fitmight have been able to crack a walnut between their bodies   There ya have it thats wha I call a hug  thereafter whenever they met they huggedhugged in the lobby

eyeballs bugged

she knew he was married

once his wife stopped by the office with their two girls he introduced her to them his wife said So you’re Sammy, Sammy the Scientist, peregrines, Joe’s enamoured with you, he mentions every time he sees you.

Thank you. Joe said you both studied biology in college, your girls are keen and prone to it as well. they exchanged a firm hand shake it was nice to see women shake who knew how to shake hands  his girls did too

before the peregrine study finished up Sammy had an opportunity in Wyoming  she said shed be insane if she let it slip through her fingers

                     she was picking up and leaving

he versed her on how to use her phone on the road told her hed manage her travel minutes after the fact so the company couldnt screw her with their deficient packages

Joe, you’re such a sweet guy. Too bad you’re married.

Thats kind of you to say Sammy

she reached over and took him by the wrist

                                               I have something for you. It’s illegal.

I prefer illict

she smiled bemusedshook her head You’re such a tease.

Ya get good at something when its the extent of how far ya can go

I know, I know. smiled sweetly now

                                        she handed him a state embossed envelope Inside is a peregrine feather. then she hugged him hard  I’m really, really going to miss you, Joe.

You know where to find me kiddo

Yes.  I do.

 

day and a half later she called him from the road

she couldnt take her whale bones  You have my address, there’s a trailer out back, they’re under it covered in canvas, if you like they’re yours.

Hellyah ya kiddin me  Ill head over after work

Yes, please, landlord’s stopping there tomorrow; I’m sorry it didn’t occur to me earlier, then I thought what better house could the bones have.

Sammy thank you Im grateful you thought of me

                                                   The girls are going to flipI aint breathing a word why Ill be late

Joe.

     I often think of you. 

there were two sperm whale rib bones and three teeth   also illegal he preferred illict 

he thought hed hear from her when she settled in Wyoming

                                                               never did

2355,  Saturday,  16  10. 21

1349,  Twosday,  19  10. 21