British Blue Eyes

“Maybe. I hope so. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be transported to a time when men were real men and women were…” Andi floundered for the correct word.

“Adored?” Gail inserted.

“Adored would be fine. Loved. Treated like a woman. I am so over the men you date today. Where are the men that think you are meant to be placed on a pedestal and treasured?

“It seems like the ones I meet want me to work and support them while they stay at home, drink beer, and watch football games,” Gail sighed.

“Welcome to the 21st century where women are equal to men.”

“Right. Well, maybe Stonehenge will perform its magic, and we will be transported to another time and find true love and happiness.”

“It’s possible,” Andi agreed. “After all, we made it this far. Who knows what will happen on this trip?”

Boarding the bus, the two women considered the options. Anything is possible, and who knows the future?

“It appears that you made it right on time,” Triston praised his flock. “Did you enjoy Hampton Court? It is a lovely place to visit. Our next stop will Salisbury where you may choose to visit the cathedral located in the town or grab a bit of lunch. Salisbury Cathedral is one of the ancient holy places in England, and it’s been a pilgrimage place for about 750 years. We will be parking very close to there as we stop for luncheon. Then, onward to Stonehenge.”

Andi watched as Triston bent his head toward a passenger to speak with him. He cocked his head slightly to the right and leaned down closely as he listened to the man. An attentive expression was on his face as they conversed. Andi wondered if he was truly interested in what the man was saying, or if he leaned close to understand the accents of all the people. She had difficulty understanding things that Triston said over the microphone. It struck her that he too might struggle to understand his passengers’ dialects. On the ride to Hampton Court, Triston had told the group that there were people from Australia, New Zealand, United States, and even some from Malaysia taking the tour. Quite a mixture of world travelers. Settling into the seat, she closed her eyes and listened to the hum of the bus. Jet lag had overcome her, and she needed to close her eyes for just a moment. Beside her Gail already slept with an unnatural tilt to her blonde head.

Across the aisle from Gail sat a passenger watching the blonde head. His heart beat excitedly as he stared through dark glasses at the sleeping figure. He fought to control his erratically beating heart. It was dangerous for him to become this excited. A sudden heart attack had made him aware of how fragile life is. Trying to control the thumping of his heart, he took deep breaths while holding tightly to his hands. His eyes never left the blonde head as he steadied his breathing and clutched his fist. He had found her!