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
