THE PROPOSAL
Sunday, Natalie was waiting for Rory on a deck-chair outside her brother's apartment.
Again, the sun shined down on her bathing her in it rosy, morning close. This time Rory saw her in a close-fitting shirt and jeans; clothes practical for Whirlpool Jet Boats, tourist films about sacrificial Iroquois princesses, a trip up the Skylon Tower, and maybe a ride in the Spanish Aero-car.
Natalie's clothes weren't all that tight, it just looked that way to Rory. He felt she'd look hot in anything.
Rory soon discovered how old school Natalie was. Natalie had bought him a present; Natalie loved vinyl and gave Rory a Bluetooth portable record player. She also presented Rory a few records to go along with it; one that came free with the machine and everything Single Tear she could buy in Niagara Falls without having to order it online.
Rory had never before had any time for playing with a turntable. Yawn! Wasting your time with a needle! Records were for grandparents. Digital was easy, one click and you're on! But for Natalie . . . Rory became an instant convert.
Besides, Natalie had bought it for him! Because, Rory thought, she loved him and wanted him to love vinyl. Well, Rory now loved vinyl.
After a bit of trial and error. Rory began by playing Single Tear with the turntable set at 78 rpm, without knowing that the high speed was reserved for pre-World War II records. Single Tear sounded like motor-mouthed chipmunks as the record frantically spun about. Natalie corrected Rory's error, and they could enjoy a recording of Single Tear at 33 1/3 rpm.
After playing Single Tear, Rory read the label of the free record that came with the machine. Western Favorites (it was an American record, so favourites was spelt without the "u"). "Home on the Range" was the first song.
Rory laughed aloud. "I once learned to play that on the guitar"
"Maybe it's fate I bought it" said Natalie.
"I think it is" said Rory in a love-struck voice.
"There's one other thing you should know" Natalie went on to say.
"What's that?"
Natalie hesitated.
"You know I like to watch instead of play video games? Well, I don't know how you feel about it . . . but instead of simply watching something, often I like to listen while I sew or even knit. I even darn socks."
Rory gave Natalie a quizzical expression.
"So . . . nit . . . and darn?" Rory muttered. "Oh! I get it! Sew, knit and fix socks. Why would I hate that?"
"Sometimes you're down on old-school things" said Natalie.
"I think it's amazing to . . . know a chick who sews" said Rory. He had almost said marry. "Anyway" Rory added childishly, "I always have to replace my socks after they get full of holes."
"I noticed" said Natalie. "Your socks don't have any heels to them."
After another amazing day at Niagara Falls, Natalie agreed to return home with Rory. She must have had it out with her brother, or so Rory thought, because Miles Crete was nowhere to be found when Rory offered to carry her things from the motel-room with kitchenette.
On his way out, Rory glanced at the sofa in front of the TV. It had been made up as a bed, complete with a portable alarm clock and family photo on the coffee table. Rory picked up the photo of the red-haired father, heavy blonde mother and the two teenage versions of Natalie and Miles.
"Who's sleeping on the couch by the family picture?" asked Rory. "You or your brother?"
"I was" said Natalie, as Rory handed her the family photo. "I love pictures as much as you. This portait was taken when I just turned fifteen. I'd love to see you at that age."
"Oh man!" said Rory, and he suddenly turned wan. "I only have a few pictures when I was fourteen and fifteen. I got camera shy. But I got over it!"
"I get it" said Natalie, putting her hand on Rory's arm. "You had a severe case of acne. I guess you felt too embarrassed. My best friend had the same problem. It's something you can laugh at when you grow older."
"Yeah, Pizza-Face Keener they called me" Rory lied. "Which was okay because I like pizza. Then I started washing my face and I got better."
Rory ended with a very audible sigh of relief.
At the condo (which Natalie loved), Natalie looked at Rory's yearbooks. Rory (with Hannah's help) had a mall photo of him placed in the Grade 9 yearbook. There was also a photo of him in the mascot suit (it was really Ethan claiming to be Rory) for Grade 10. And then all the photos of Rory anyone could ever want to see, from the May of his Grade 10 year through graduation and on to the present day.
Natalie and Rory also spent a good couple hours looking at the toys, models and Blu-Rays. But most important of all, there was Krypto.
Krypto literally jumped up on Natalie when she walked into the combination living and dining room. He was so friendly he almost knocked Natalie over; Rory had to catch Natalie.
"You passed the Krypto test!" joked Rory, but Natalie was already laughing while she shook paws with the friendly dog.
"He also sits, rolls over and fetches" said Rory. "You don't know how many sticks I had to carry around in my mouth to teach him that!"
Rory didn't mention Krypto's ability to smell anything paranormal or evil. Anyway, it was now getting dark, and the grounds between the condo building and the lake were a great place for watching fireworks. Victoria Day and Canada Day are the two major holidays in Canada for setting off fireworks. New Years Day, in contrast, is a poor third; likely because it's in the dead of winter.
While Canada Day fireworks are usually on Canada Day, Victoria Day fireworks are typically the night before. Victoria Day is, after all, a Monday, and most adults have to go to work Tuesday.
But Rory wasn't thinking about this when the fireworks were launched into the sky. He was barely even thinking about the fireworks! He just felt how awesome it was to sit on a bench with his arm around his girl, watching the rockets launch into the sky.
It would have been an awesome moment to propose, or so thought Rory. But he was wedded, so to speak, to proposing to Natalie while up in the air.
The following morning, Rory and Natalie drove up to the aerodrome with Krypto. It was busy driving out of the Toronto/Mississauga area. But when you're with your girl in your Mustang, you don't mind. And there was Single Tear and Krypto.
Natalie was in another of the summer dresses that her petite form filled out so well, at least in Rory's view. As for Rory; naturally he was wearing his aviator shirt, his aviator sunglasses and his aviator scarf. He would have worn his aviator jacket, but it was 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) in the shade.
After an hour's driving, they were in the verdant Ontario countryside. Krypto barked his approval when they left Highway 400 and went on a two-lane road, and finally a gravel road.
"Don't stick your head out the window, buddy" Rory advised his dog.
This area of the country, the rolling hills of southern Simcoe County, was the area Natalie grew up. It wasn't too dissimilar to the farmland around Whitechapel.
"Your condo's cool" said Natalie. "But I just love the country."
"Someday I want to move back to Whitechapel" Rory replied, with a brief look at Natalie. "Maybe I could someday move to a farmhouse just out of town."
"I think it's romantic" said Natalie.
"Yeah . . . except you need a well and a septic tank" said architectural engineer Rory, in a wistful voice. "Or you can get a cistern."
"We have a well" said Natalie.
The aerodrome was a small private airport with a gravel runaway, and a hangar converted from an old red barn. An old man was napping in a small frame office.
"Well, Rory, isn't it?" said the man, awakened by Krypto's barking. "And the young lady is Natalie?"
"Yes" Natalie replied. "And the dog is Krypto!"
Krypto was bounding about. He was excited to be out in the countryside and its smells.
"How do you know our names?" Rory asked the man curiously.
"By your reservation, of course" said the man. "So, Rory, you have a night rating and an instrument rating? Impressive for a recreational pilot."
"Yeah" said Rory, but adding. "But I usually wear night vision goggles so, you know, I can see."
"Smart man. Kevin's my name."
Rory and Kevin shook hands, then Natalie and Kevin. Then Rory and Natalie got carried away and shook hands with one another before they thought better of it, while Krypto bounded around.
Kevin pointed out the small airplane, parked outside the hangar. He escorted Natalie and Rory, while Krypto bounded along himself.
The plane was the tiny Cessna 152, which ordinarily sat two people and featured duel-controls on its instrument panels. This plane actually had an extra bench seat in the baggage area, an option with that model; however, due to the plane's size and weight distribution it was only safe to carry small children or pets in the baggage area.
Rory had learned how to pilot on Cessnas, so he was well familiar with their operation. This plane was decades old, but the Cessna 152 had been a popular model for flight instructors and recreational pilots. There are still many in the air and this one was particularly well kept. Her propeller, tricycle landing gear and red paintjob shone like new.
There was just enough room for Natalie, Rory, Krypto and a couple backpacks. Rory had taken Krypto flying before (and the rest of Team Sabre, although the first time Ethan insisted on touching the plane to "see" if anything would happen). Krypto actually liked the rides, though they nearly made him airsick. The only problem was Rory had to harness his dog in a seat while in the air.
Krypto also had to wear muffs on his ears because of the noise, but he was used to that and considered it part of the fun. That, and being with his master, and looking out at the weird moving landscape from the back window.
But Rory thought that Krypto ought to stay on land. Not only would his dog be able to run around . . . but Rory worried Natalie might be offended if he took Krypto with him up when he went to propose.
"He'll have more fun here" said Rory.
"Tied up!" objected Natalie. "I don't think so."
"Oh, take the dog along" said Kevin. "I'm sure he'll do no harm. My Dalmation never does."
"Of course Krypto won't be any trouble" said Rory indignantly. "He's been with me tons of times. But I haven't a harness for him."
"I can lend you one of the flying club's."
Rory was convinced when Krypto ran to the plane.
"Okay" said Rory. "You don't mind, Natalie!"
"I've love him to go up to us."
Rory had taken his first airplane flying lesson at the age of eighteen. It was then his instructor impressed upon him the seriousness of what he was doing. All the danger and trouble he could cause if he didn't take flying seriously; not only to himself, but to others. His passengers, other pilots and their passengers, even people on the ground.
If Rory was interested in a subject, he was capable of taking it seriously. Even if it was for fun. So that's why Rory had looked at the aviation charts for the area, planned where he was going, looked at the gauges on the instrument panel, and made sure Krypto was securely harnessed in (and in position to look out the back window) before he and Natalie began to speed down the gravel runway.
"We have to be careful in how we distribute the weight" Rory explained as he looked about the plane.
"Because of me?" said Natalie, with a smile on her face. "I'm offended."
"No, because this is a real small plane!" Rory replied hastily. "I'm sure I weigh more than you."
"Don't worry, Rorster" Natalie said. "I'm joking."
"Oh!" said Rory, looking up and seeing Natalie's smile.
The two of them laughed.
"It's going to be the next best thing to flying with a jet-pack or anti-gravity belt" Rory explained.
And then Rory started the engine; the propeller spun about, the plane sped down the gravel runway, and up through a small cloud of dust went the rented plane.
Once they were at a steady cruising altitude, Krypto looked eagerly at the country landscape far before.
Rory looked to Natalie to see if she was having as good a time as he was. She gave him an admiring smile. That was a good sign. She wasn't afraid of being in a small plane, and looked curiously at the scenery below them. That was also good.
"Maybe we can spot my parent's home" said Natalie.
"We're heading to Barrie anyway" said Rory. "Maybe you can give me the coordinates?"
"The street address?"
"If I looked it up?" suggested Rory.
Unfortunately, they missed Natalie's parents' house, but they had fun looking for it. They had soon left the country behind and were flying high over the City of Barrie on the shore of Lake Simcoe. Rory had to be careful when flying along the north end of the lake, as that might put him over the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport. In fact, an air traffic controller cut in on the radio telling Rory to adjust his flight path further to the south. A private jet was going to land at the nearby airport.
"That's annoying" Natalie said.
"Yeah" Rory shrugged. "But it would be more annoying to crash midair! That's why they cut in and do that. They're not trying to be buzzkills or anything. It's just easier for us small pilots to move than the big planes. Hey, look, some guy's put up a drone! Wow, this one looks like it's been launched by aliens!"
It was one of those large drones that looked like a multi-rotorred alien helicopter. Fortunately, the owner had some sense of responsibility and the drone wasn't close to the plane. Rory and Natalie looked at each other, and each on their own decided to wave to wave at the drone as if it were taking their picture. Which it probably was.
"Waving's a little lame" Rory acknowledged. "But there's nothing really that's replaced it yet."
Now the three of them were flying over Lake Simcoe. Here and there Rory and Natalie could see sailing yachts, houseboats and motor boats atop the clear blue water. In the distance, were beaches full of May 2-4 weekend tourists.
"This is beautiful" said Natalie.
Truly, the scenery couldn't be better. Rory felt he was at his very best. And this was Rory's big chance. This is what he was waiting for. He took the earphones off an ear.
"Natalie" said Rory, a little too eagerly. "I know I just met you Friday."
"I remember, Rorster!" teased Natalie.
"But I feel as if we've met long, long before" Rory continued.
"I do too" said Natalie.
Natalie suddenly looked startled. She had guessed what Rory was going to say. Her smile faded into a straight line, and she looked pensive.
Rory continued.
"These last three days have been about the awesome-est of my whole life" said Rory.
"They've been the awesome-est of mine too, Rorster" said Natalie, and although she still looked thoughtful she smiled. "I think I know what you want to ask."
"You do?" asked Rory, "I know this is fast, and maybe I'm being a little crazy in asking so soon. But the moment I met you, I became the luckiest dude in the world. But I'll be even luckier if you marry me. Because I love you Natalie . . . with all my heart and all my soul. Natalie, will you marry me?"
And Rory pulled the ring case out of his pocket. Rory received a bark from Krypto who recognized his master's prized possession. He handed it to Natalie.
"I forgot!" Rory said, wide-eyed. "I can't kneel right now like I'm supposed to!"
"You don't need to" said Natalie. "I . . . . my gosh"
Natalie gasped when she saw the ring. The glittering two karat cushion-cut diamond set in gold.
Rory picked it out because it was the biggest diamond for the price, also he thought that diamonds should look square. It was modern, yet like Natalie it was just a little old school. It also fit on the the small finger of Rory's left hand, so he took it as a given that it would fit Natalie's ring finger.
"Some people say I'm a little different" said Natalie at last. "I'm old-fashioned, and I always dreamed of a whirlwind romance where a woman is swept off your feet."
"I can do that" said Rory, a bit confusedly wondering how you literally "sweep a woman off her feet."
"You have" said Natalie.
"So . . . you will?" asked Rory.
"I don't want to go back to the bank and risk losing you a hundred kilometres away" said Natalie. "Only have one long weekend to remember. I know it sounds so . . . pathetic. What with Skype!"
"I didn't want to lose you!" said Rory. "Whoa! It sounds so lame in movies . . . but it's true!"
"Here's something else that sounds lame" admitted Natalie. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I feel as if I've just been waiting to meet you."
"So, will you marry me?"
"Yes, Rorster, I will marry you!"
It's awkward kissing on a two-seat airplane, especially when the air-traffic controller asks you to fly higher to accommodate the flight path of a helicopter winging its way into Barrie.
