Autumn to summer in Penny Lane

May extra

Taking a sip of coffee, Caitlin strode towards the Rapido pre briefing room. Normally when it was Linda or even Ibris it would be relatively straight forward. Everything would be wrapped up promptly and quickly with everybody aware of their duties. This though was not the case with Tango Pam who was so called because of her love for the tan bed. It always took an effort to remain awake as they went through every minute detail.

Glancing around she saw a new cabin crew member who looked quite smart and at first glance very professional. With her light brown skin, Caitlin assumed her fellow cabin crew member might be Spanish. There was a slight feeling of contempt at how this newcomer stood politely taking in all the rubbish that Tango Pam was spewing.

'Probably a fecking creep who thinks this airline is a career,' Caitlin thought as the woman answered Pam's questions earnestly.

'I'm sorry,' said Tango Pam. 'I haven't introduced you two. Vanessa this is Caitlin an experienced cabin crew member. Caitlin this is Vanessa who has just recently joined Rapido.'

There was a brief nod and nothing else said at that time changed Caitlin's mind. That was until Caitlin gave a flippant response to a silly question by Pam as Vanessa gave a mischievous smirk. A slight surge of a connection was made as they made their way to board the plane.

'You speak Catalan?' Caitlin asked excitedly after Vanessa said she was from Barcelona.

A nod and the pair started to talk fluently as they talked about various parts of the city.

Tango Pam openly groaned as she thought Caitlin although professional when passengers was about could be awkward and liable to messing about. A loud cackle from Vanessa saw her worst fears confirmed. Caitlin had found a similar like minded soul as they acted like two school girls on the loose from St. Trinian's.

Admittedly they had come in useful with that awful stag party to Barcelona. If it had been another crew the threat of having to divert would have happened. Instead both Caitlin and Vanessa had dealt with the party with the efficiency of Tony Soprano cracking heads.

It would be more than fair to say that an instant friendship blossomed between the pair as they had a common interest in travelling, watching live music, television, fashion, and a love of different flavours of ice cream. Both were interested in the arts as Caitlin was a 'jobbing,' actor whilst Vanessa had plans to be a singer.

They also stood no nonsense with the Rapido bosses who tried to change their contracts or rotas. Much to the annoyance of Tango Pam and senior grades they always rallied the rest of the crew to defend their rights. If they disagreed with the corporate bullshit that Rapido tried to feed then this was openly mocked and derided. In short Tango Pam was quite correct in dubbing them a pirate flight crew as the pair sailed close to the wind especially as they enjoyed a joke when the passengers were not about.

Secrets were discussed between the pair as Caitlin confided that she was bisexual whilst Vanessa admitted that she had been married.

'He was still eleven years old in the head,' Vanessa complained. 'Still his Mama didn't help as she still wiped his arse!'

The pair discussed problems such as Caitlin's issues with her landlord whilst Vanessa offered help and a bed to stay if needed. Equally Caitlin helped Vanessa when her family was giving her a hard time.

Everything was a lot more fun together as they went away to music festivals, nights out, even running together although Vanessa was not as fast as Caitlin. The pair were quite glad when people spoke of them as being like sisters because the friendship was that strong. Trust was more than key as the pair would openly trust their lives with the other.