On Impulse

By Margaret Edwards

Oakley sighed. He was used to airport security, but it was still a bore. He settled on the conveyor belt, letting the metal rollers massage his back, and sighed again as the belt stopped before the x-ray scanner.

And suddenly there she was: beside him, just as she had been all week, whether squeezed on a luggage rack, tossed under a picnic table or riding high on Adam and Evie. His most promising holiday romance ever and, just when he feared it was over, here was a last chance to conquer his reserve and act on impulse.

‘Hello again,’ he ventured, and she whispered, ‘It’s nice to see you, but we haven’t been properly introduced.’

What an idiot. ‘My apologies,’ he said. ‘Oakley Enduro, at your service.’

‘Miss Lulu Faux-Leather,’ she murmured. ‘I’d been waiting all week for you to speak. Enduro, mm, powerful name.’

‘And yourself,’ Oakley exclaimed, ‘not any old Leather, a virtuous Faux-Leather! Are youalso Vegan?’

Lulu blushed and looked away, giving him the chance to admire her cute little pockets and silver studs. He eased himself slightly on the belt, letting his toggles dangle nonchalantly over the side.

‘What happens next?’ asked Lulu anxiously. ‘In that compartment behind the curtains?’

Oakley swelled with pride. ‘It’s nothing,’ he bragged. ‘Over quickly, and you don’t feel a thing. Even if they open you up and take everything out, they put it all back in again…unlessAdam or Evie’s left batteries in. No worries, we’ll go inside together.’

It felt strangely thrilling in the dark as the x-ray beam passed through him and Lulu pressed close. Rolling forwards into daylight again the world exploded with frantic noise and people lugging cases around.

‘Oh no!’ cried Lulu. ‘What’s that?’

On a side desk a shabby old Karrimor was being systematically disembowelled; heavy fingers were slashing open his stitching and ripping the seams apart.

‘Don’t look,’ warned Oakley, throwing a shoulder strap across her face. But she had already seen enough; the Karrimor would never travel again. ‘Never fear,’ said Oakley. ‘Our carriers would never make us hold dodgy stuff.’

They were interrupted suddenly by Adam and Evie grabbing them and strapping them on. Evie noticed Adam grinning at Lulu and laughed.

‘I know,’ she said. ‘This was a ridiculous purchase, just a fashion statement really. I can’t even squeeze my water bottle in! But so cute, especially all the silver studs. When I get home, it’ll be a real shame packing it away in the attic for another year.’

Oakley and Lulu held their breath.

‘Well, that doesn’t have to happen,’ said Adam. ‘We’ve had some great days out walking, haven’t we? We could meet up again, say next weekend at Box Hill? Just so you could useyour impulse buy, of course.’

‘Of course,’ echoed Evie. ‘All right then, you’re on.’

Oakley and Lulu exchanged a lingering smile, and then Oakley jolted Adam into action, and they all sped away merrily through Departures…