Blog Birthday Special

This story celebrated the 1st Birthday of my short story blog by uniting two of my recurring and popular characters, Steve and Vinny

Steve saw the queue at the gate and his blood began to boil, the flight hadn’t even been called yet and people were already standing in line waiting to board; why did they do that? He saw the amount of hand luggage his fellow travellers had and again let out a sigh, where was Johnny when you needed him? He sat down and waited. He was happy to be last man on the plane.

Or last on the bus as it turned out. It always made him laugh that; all those people queuing just so they could stand on a bus while pedants like him waited until the end of boarding.

He got on the plane and sat down next to a biggish guy who was staring straight ahead.

‘One piece of hand luggage,’ Steve said to the stranger, ‘one piece of hand luggage, that’s all you’re meant to be allowed, but look at these people; two, three, plus duty free. I know those budget airlines are the devil incarnate but at least they police that. It’s antisocial you know, selfish really, they only care that there is enough space for their things but they’re upset if there isn’t.’ The stranger stayed silent, still staring at the seat in front of him. ‘And there, see, now people have to put their bag miles away from their seat, delaying us all. There’s rules for a reason you know?’

The man next to Steve still hadn’t spoken. He was tall and wiry, his face gaunt and unshaven and he smelt of cigarettes. He didn’t look like much but the stare was impressive, it looked like he was trying to burn a hole in the seat in front of him.  

‘I just don’t know why the staff don’t say anything.’ Steve slapped his hands on his legs in exasperation.

‘I don’t care.’ The eyes hadn’t moved but the stranger had definitely spoken.

‘Sorry.’ Steve looked at the man next to him.

‘I don’t care.’ He repeated himself and this time Steve saw the glint of Vinny’s trademark diamond as he spoke.