WEATHER RELATED
National Novel Writing Month
Book Idea # 11
Della
French is flying from New York to San Francisco via Chicago. For Della, a two-hour
weather delay was made easier by her seat in first class and the two men
sitting with her.
Charles
Gray a forty-year old psychotherapist who claims he studied astrology in India
is handsome and charismatic. Eric Dyson is an older business man who talks
about collecting cars and wine. For the next five hours, the three talk, eat
snacks, and drink wine.
At
O’Hare, the three learn they have missed the last flight to San Francisco. Standing
in the customer service line, while Dyson talks to United on his phone, Della
and Charles chat and flirt.
When
the three finally reach a United agent, they learn they are all booked on a flight
at seven fifteen in the morning. According to agent, they can stay in the
airport and sleep on a cot or they can use a voucher to stay at a local hotel. Unfortunately,
all the airport hotels are booked. The
agent says there is a Best Western some thirteen miles from the airport that is
“passable.”
Standing
behind Della, Dyson informs the agent the 1K desk said she should book him a room
at a nearby Marriott. Eventually after considerable argument, the agent calls
the Marriott and arranges for three rooms. Obviously angry, the Agent informs
the travelers their luggage is already on its way to San Francisco and because
of the late hour they must take a cab the hotel.
On
the way to the cab stand, Dyson asks Della if she is hungry or would like a
drink. When she says yes to both, Dyson suggests they check in and then go
downtown to a late-night jazz club he knows. When Charles is quick to say, he
loves the idea. Della agrees, even though she knows she is being impulsive.
Over the course of
the next six hours Dyson will show Della and Charles a side of Chicago that few
travelers ever see and even fewer survive.
