Copyright 1994(c)
                          BUMPS IN THE DARK 
                   By William H. (Buzz) Lange
 
     Once I was actually good at Grade I Braille. I was on an
airplane flying out to California one night, and just for the heck
of it, I pulled out my Grade I Primer. I was somewhere in the
middle, where there are a lot of bumps per page. I had the book on
the little desk that folds down from the seat in front. 
     "Oh, Sorry--I didn't know you were awake!" bubbled the pretty
flight attendant who had just reached across for an empty cup on
the tray next to me. She almost fell in my lap when I moved to give
her room. "Oops!" 
     "No problem!" I returned. She smelled wonderful. 
     "What are you doing?" she asked, her eyes becoming accustomed
to the semi-darkness. I had the lights off. 
     "Reading." I said, feeling an opportunity to show off. 
     "In the dark?" she said as she squatted in the aisle, her head
only inches away from mine. 
     "Sure!--Don't need light to read Braille!" I perked, thanking
myself secretly for bringing the book along. 
     "Braille..?" she said as she tucked a little curl behind her
ear. 
     "Yep!" I drew in a breath, stunned by her presence,
"Here..Feel.." I slid the book a little closer, found her tiny
hand, and tucked it into mine, "..There." 
     "Oh..Wow..Hmm.." She was definitely captivated, not to mention
captivating. "What does it say?" 
     "Uh.."  Good God!  She really had me there--I couldn't tell
her that it was just a primer!  I had to think fast.. "It's a
romance story!" 
     "Really?!  Read it to me!" She leaned in and wrapped her arm
around my arm rest. We were shoulder to shoulder. I could have
melted in her voice, she was that good. 
     "Oh..uh..yeah.." I stammered, feeling the bumps somewhere
telling me: <..family/ does not mind..> Boring stuff. I scanned
the page, perhaps two or three times faster than I could actually
read, feeling the bumps go by. At least I kept on the rows. My mind
raced. Then I started.. 
     "Jack and Jill," I began, already in too deep to quit, "Went
up the hill, only they didn't have 'fetchin' water' on their minds.
When they reached the well, Jack said to Jill, 'Here's a good spot 
for our picnic!'  And Jill said, 'Oh, yes! Let's put down the 
blanket under that beautiful tree over there!' Well, they walked 
over to the tree, arm in arm, placed the blanket in the shade, and 
sat down without letting go. 'Aren't you hot with that cape and 
bonnet?' Jack asked of Jill, seductively sliding his hand over her 
warm dewy shoulders. 'Oh, yes..' answered Jill, who was getting
even warmer.. 'Yes..'" I moved my hand back and forth, well into
the rhythm and accurately hitting line after line. Of course, I
was making all this up. 
     I went on and on, telling this wonderful seductive story to
this incredibly beautiful woman next to me. I stopped at one spot
when I was captivated by her smile and even teeth. I turned the
page. 
     "Well! Is there more?" She asked, her eyes wide in the reduced
light. 
     "Yeah, but it's getting.." I drew up in my chair.. "Steamy." 
     "Oh..Hehehe..I understand." She grinned at me, dimples and
all. "I have to finish the pick-up!" she said as she glided to her
full height. I was consumed by the smoothness of her legs and
didn't move my head. "Gotta go--be back in a few!" she said. 
     "Please, do." I looked up and smiled back, my heart jumping
with the thought of yet another encounter. 
     Later, when we arrived in Los Angeles, I gathered my stuff
and headed forward to deplane. I passed the flight attendants at
the door who were saying, "Good-night!" to one and all. I
recognized the wonderful perfume of the attendant who listen to my
story. 
     "Good-night!" I said, "And thank-you very much!" I headed out
into the gateway. I was already feeling the loss, and probably took
a little extra time leaving. I wanted to turn around and kiss her,
but didn't and kept moving. I sighed and headed up the ramp.
     "..Isn't that amazing!" breathed the soft voice that I had so 
willingly entertained, "He doesn't even use a cane!" 
     From that day on, I decided that I will always fly with my
Braille books. Never know.. 
                               END