Journey into the Unknown by Tillie Wells Page A

especially around a beautiful, intelligent, professional, and sophisticated woman as you.”
    “Honestly, it is no problem. You just kind of caught me off guard. Who knows? Maybe I need to loosen up and throw caution to the wind as you do. I need to take spins, and enjoy life more. And wow, thanks for the compliments.”
    “No problem. I like how you put that. If you know of anyone who has loosening to do, refer them to me. I’m known to do things like bring the oil can and lubricate the life out of Dorothy’s Tin Man.”
    “Now that’s some serious loosening of old bolts, Kye.”
    “My specialty.”
    We take a seat at a table on the outside. I look across the marina. The boats sailing by, the sun and the beautiful California sky makes me marvel at the beauty of it all.
    “So, you think you are going to like working in this division of the firm?” I ask Kye.
    “If I can adjust to boring corporate trust division, I think I can handle anything. But when I graduated from college two years ago, I didn’t expect to end up here. I wanted something wild, exciting, and enjoyable. I’m still seeking the job with that edge where I can be free and enjoy myself on a daily basis. I never wanted to be a pencil pusher confined to a cubbyhole as if I’m doing time in a penitentiary. But, I’m young and I’m sure I will find my niche.”
    “You know, I understand what you mean. Lately I feel like I’m missing something I should have captured years ago. I thought I was doing what was necessary to make a living, but lately I feel if I don’t escape this rut soon I will die.”
    “And what is that feeling, Miss Miranda?”
    “It’s a feeling of wanting to escape the day-to-day monotony, but I don’t know what else I can do. You understand?”
    “Of course I understand, because I’m the queen of escapes, the don’t-knows, the what-froms, and the whatevers.”
    We both laugh throughout our conversation as we finish off our lunch.
    * * * *
    The work day goes by. Kye brings such youth and excitement to my usually humdrum days and I find myself thinking about her over the weekend. I hate that we didn’t exchange telephone numbers so we could talk.
    The work weeks fly past. Monday comes and before I know it, it's Friday again. We do lunch again one Friday at the same spot.
    At the end of the day that Friday, Kye and I take the elevator down to the first floor.
    “Well, another week of my life has gone by again.”
    “Wow! You say that with doom and gloom. How about we walk around the corner to the Eagle’s Nest and have a drink.”
    “That is a great idea. I can’t remember the last time I did something so spontaneous.”
    “You call having a drink at a bar at happy hour spontaneous? Girl, you haven’t yet lived the life of Kiley Parrish. I can teach you a thing or two about spontaneity.”
    “And just what are those spontaneous things?”
    “Just keep hanging with me and you'll see,” she laughs.
    “Okay, but I hope hanging with you doesn’t lead me into the path of devastation.”
    “If it does, then it’ll be a path of enjoyable devastation.”
    We laugh as we enter the bar. It’s surprising to see a dimly lit room at this hour. The music plays loudly and sounds like Techno which is also surprising. Usually, happy hour consists of soft music and people talking, but this place is party central. I watch the dance floor come to life as I make a discovery.
    “Oh, my God, Kye, is this a lesbian bar?”
    “It’s a lesbian bar if you want to look at it that way. I look at it as females who just want to hang out with other females and no men allowed. Well, men are allowed, but they seldom come here.”
    I guess the shock on my face amuses Kye and she orders me shot after shot of hard liquor. I toss each down as the bartender fills up glass after glass. I can see that Kye is getting a kick out of my reaction as I watch the action on the dance floor. She can see I am curious. I must seem shocked out of my mind to