25 minute speed writing

RANDOM things came to John as his plane touched down for the first time. It was a hot day, and the airport wasn't all that busy in Texas. She wasn't with him today - she was at the mall, shopping again, and probably spending more of his money.

It had all been a lot easier since the win. There was plenty now: money to spend on the kinds of things he'd never had before. Cars, toys, a new home, and the aeroplane. He'd been taking lessons from The Texan for three months now. It didn't really bother him too much that he was being ripped off. He knew the man had problems, and he was helping him out in his own way.

WHat bothered him was the was she treated him. He knew in the back of his mind that she only wanted him for his money. She was a gold digger. That was as plain as day. But he always fell for them. It was the weakness he fell for. The emotional neediness. Like he was some kind of rescuer or something.

She'd worked on and off in bars, lap dancing most of the time, occasionally turning tricks for the wealthier punters. She's been married a couple of times, and had a kid. The kid was Ok. Just about ten, and already seeing what her mother was. The glances of embarrassment told him that she'd been there before with her mother. She wouldn't be going down that road, he thought.

It reminded him of the way he used to be with his own father. How many times had he actually looked the man in the eyes, and seen what was going on there, deep down? Twice, in his whole life? His own father was a boozer, too. Whisky.

She drank Tequila. Mostly Margueritas, but she'd always get to shots by the end of the evening.

She'd been married just the once. Sally wasn't her husband's child. Her dad was a long way off. Just a one night stand, that left the next day. She never saw him again, and Sally never asked.

He taxied the plane to the parking bay, and silently congratulated himself on a good landing. There had been some heavy crosswinds, and this was the first time he'd landed on instruments alone. He was determined to make the most of his money, he knew. Sure, he'd been through seventy five grand in just over three months, but he was having fun. And he had plenty left.

He'd always wanted to fly. Not enough to actually work and save the money to do it. He'd had a couple of friends who flew and, having had the chance to fly himself now and then, he knew it was fun but could get tedious like anything else. There was still a lot of paperwork, a lot of planning, and it was hardly like it must have been in the days before beacons and air lanes and the sky full of traffic like it is now.

The phone rang. It was her, calling from another store and wanting a credit line increase.

"What's it for, baby?" he said.
""Honey, I seen a beautiful coat here on sale, and it's a bargain!" You'll love it, baby.

He actually hated it when she called him "baby". Something reminded him of tacky songs about sad drunks and, if he was really honest about her, that's exactly what she was.

Some part of him knew deep down inside that he wasn't really satisfied with the way things had turned out. I mean, sixteen million dollars is a lot of money, but it's true when they say it doesn't bring happiness, he thought. He'd bought so many toys, and it galled him that he still didn't use any of them to any real degree. There was the pool that he intended to swim in every day, but had used six times. There was the drum kit, which again was some fantasy he had about playing in a band. Was he likely to? And come on, was he really going to fly solo around the world? Did he really think he could do it?

Winning the money was a curse, he thought to himself. This woman was no real friend to him, let alone a good lover. She was using him, and he knew it. He was a weak man, and didn't have the balls to admit he had nothing to really offer anyone. How many good women had passed through his arms over the years, but he thought he knew what he wanted.

A crackle came through the radio as the air traffic controller squawked the last few words to The Texan. It seemed there was a bit of a joke going on. They'd had this kind of guy before, it was plain. This kind of guy who needed to show off a bit.

The world was full of them.

END