Chapter 3

Grandmother said, “How much for lessons?”

“For you?” That was a laugh ... she was a combat pilot. Sure ... it was a long time ago ... but ... a refresher ... she’d be fine.

“For Lisa.”

“Umh ... does she want to fly?”

“All her life she watches the birds.” She followed up with, “She pesters my son in law with trips to the airfield. She has volunteered to clean planes in exchange for hours. She passed the FAA First Test 100%. How much?”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Thirty two hundred and fuel.”

She whipped out a checkbook, scribbled on a blank and handed me paper for 3,500.00 bucks. “You negotiate with her for the fuel. Put her to work.”

What the hell ... I called the bank.

“Yes ... her check is good. Is she there?”

“Yes,”

“Put her on, thank you.”

“He did what?”

She turned to me, “The bank president bought a hundred quick pick Monster Million tickets.”

She listened ... a shocked look on her face. “No ... I won’t press charges.”

Again to me, “Three tickets won ... seven dollars ... one million dollars, 10 thousand dollars.”

She listened again.

“He says he had a hunch. Looks like he was right.”

I was nodding like one of those water sipper bar dodads. Bounce bounce bounce.

I never said a word, I just took Lisa to the local approved flight surgeon, sent her inside with 60 dollars and read a book. Probably a Louis Dearborn L’Amour western ... I had dozens.

Out in the car and headed back to to my strip, Lisa questioned me.

“What?”

“What what?”

“What are we doing?”

“Did you get a document from the doctor?”

She did.

Yes ... Lisa got lessons.

The more she flew the better she flew ... I did not want her to solo.

Solo? She wouldn’t need me. And it was looking like I needed her.

Her grandmother called me.

“You let Lisa solo!”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Marry the girl.”