The 7 O'Clock Story

Elisabeth met Raleigh in front of a magazine kiosk on the corner of Columbus Avenue one mid-Winter morning on her way to work at Harris & Harris' , she was secretary four in the pool and everybody noticed that she dressed a little too exquisite for someone who spends eight hours a day tapping the keys on an inanimate object and using a hot water spout for the corporate cuppas . Elisabeth was a little flummoxed by Raleigh's name, she only ever heard his moniker applied to certain bicycles and townships in Southern states. Why on god's earth was his name Raleigh? But that wouldn't be the only aspect of Raleigh that was a little askew. You see, Raleigh was a man whose smile concealed his most insidious agendas. The man Elisabeth met that fine morning in front of the Park Row kiosk that immediately made her heart and tummy feel like a Coney Island ride, was about to take her for a ride she would never, ever forget.

It was impractically cold for a drive up to the mountains, but Raleigh insisted it was the best time of the year to embark on the fifty mile road cruise. Raleigh was unusually chipper, he was by no means a curmudgeon, but on this particular morning it took great pains for him to have his grin depart, Why was Raleigh so upbeat? It made little sense for him to be in such a jovial state, chiefly because of the fact he was just sacked from his cushy trader's position at one of the top stock firms of Wall Street.

The conversations these two shared were general, some flirtatious laughter abounded as Raleigh placed his hand ever so gingerly if not strategically on Elisabeth's warm and welcoming knee. He would leave his hand precisely there for the duration of the journey that was now nearing its end

Where was Raleigh taking Elisabeth?

The last ten miles were indeed the most arduous as mountain driving can often be, until finally they arrived  - the sign said ' Kelly's Diner, Free Pepsi After Twelve Noon

 It was 12:08. The pair were a mite famished, given they both neglected to nourish themselves before embarking on their sojourn and they ordered two egg-salad sandwiches, and coffee, black - they didn't want the Pepsi.

After they got the check for two dollars and forty-three cents, Elisabeth and Raleigh took a walk up a stone-lined road in a town called Oak Valley.And Elisabeth was shivering it was still quite February and Richard took her hand to warm inside of his pocket and they continued onward and upward.

Elisabeth was being patient, she was a bit quizzical as to why Raleigh insisted they go to the country this wintry Sunday morning, what on earth was his plan, thought Elisabeth

Finally they reached the four-corners cross section up the road and then they began heading back down road - And back to Raleigh's 1945 Humber |Hawk. Raleigh places the key in the ignition and they are on another journey  - the sign read : New York City, 50 Miles. They are on the way back to the fair city.

Raleigh just wanted to take his best dame on a country stroll.

Oh you thought he was going to bludgeon her, didn't you?

THE END