When Courtney met Tom
I’m walking down the streets of Surry, trying to figure out what time it is. There's a big clock tower that says its five past one, but I look at my watch, which I set on the airplane to the correct time, and it says it’s five o’ clock. Confused, I stop a passing stranger and ask what time it is. He smiles, figuring that I’m a visiting tourist. He’s right of course.
He looks down at his watch, then back at me.
“It’s a little past one o’ clock,” he says. I frown looking from him to the clock tower. Then it comes to me. I laugh.
“I keep forgetting I’m not in New York.” I tell him. He looks surprised. “Are you from New York?” he asks me. I can tell he must have visited there. I shake my head.
“No but that’s where I was headed when our pilot got drunk and took us here.” Now it’s his turn to look confused.
“Why don’t I buy you coffee and you can explain that to me…” he says. I laugh and nod.
“By the way, I’m Courtney.” I introduce myself, extending my hand forward. He laughs and shakes my hand, replying
“I’m Tom.”
I nod and we walk together to a near by coffee shop. We talk first about my plane ride, how I was on the plane, taking the ride, and I get to the airport, surprised to find I am in England instead of New York. The airport management gathered our flight and apologized for the inconvenience, saying that there system was a little off, but out of the plane who comes but our pilot, drunk and tripping all over the place. I explain that the airport gave us complimentary stays at their hotel down the street.
After that, conversation turns to my family background and then his. I find that he has three older brothers. I ask him what his hobbies are, and he tells me fishing, carp fishing to be precise. After a while it begins to get late and we say goodbye, heading our separate ways. It was an extremely pleasant way to spend a day. The next day the airport tells us we are going back to New York.