Mount Rogers
Virginia
July 2011
Here we are, in the Jefferson National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, on our way up to the summit of Mount Rogers. Just the two of us, Lisa and me, and we haven’t seen anyone else for a while except for the distant ponies. Minding their own business, as we do ours.
A couple of hikers are on their way down and wouldn’t you know it, we smoothly fall into conversation. Where are you from? Have you been here before? Great day, isn’t it! Y’know, prattle and twaddle.
We’re chatting away when the guy, Bob, with no apparent link to anything we have been talking about, says, “If I were to guess, I’d say you two aren’t married.”
We say, “Nope. Just hiking.”
“Well, I’m going to take a chance here,” Bob continues. “I have a very handsome, modern-style designer house just north of [he names a small town not too far from here.] A wide variety of people frequently drop by, all kinds, professors of biochemistry, employees of the university, and a number of others. It’s very open and friendly. Great fun, they stay late, some even stay over.
“Rhonda and I, y’know, (he nods to his companion,) we don’t really know you but do you have any plans for later? Why don’t you come join us for dinner, we’d love to have you. We have lots of wine, some hangar steaks, we’ll sit around and enjoy each other. Get to know one another.”
“Wow, Bob, thanks. Sounds like great fun. But we kind of have our weekend planned, just the two of us. Appreciate it though.”
“Well, how long have you two known each other? Do you go to parties often? Rhonda and me, (nod,) we’ve been together for fifteen years and we’ve been having people over for about fourteen and a half. These get-togethers are quite comfortable, very informal, y’know.”
“Okay, great meeting you.” We all shake hands and bid each other well. Rhonda’s hand lingers just a little.
Lisa and I continue our way up the hill as Bob and Rhonda continue down. Some ten minutes later, a light bulb turns on above my dense, cement-filled head. I turn to Lisa and say, “We’ve just been hit on, haven’t we?”
Lisa looks at me grinning, eyes narrowed, and says, “Sure enough, Cowboy. We’ve just been hit on. Could have been a crazy night.”
