The Love Affair of Tad and Elizabeth--Day 25 and 26

DAY 25--THE KAYAK CONNECTION    
   
The REI  Store  (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) is a co-operative store located in San Diego, California. It was recommended , if you remember, to Tad and Elizabeth when they visited Pensacola Kayak and Sails a few weeks ago.in Florida. Today they met their contact, Raul Hernandez,manager of kayak sales for REI, a tall, gangly soft-spoken Mexican who had immigrated four years ago from Juarez.He greeted them with warm smiles and said right off the bat,"I have just the thing for father and daughter as he led them over to a gleaming blue-lacquered kayak named The Blue Dolphin.    
   
"You guys at all familiar with kayaking?"  
   
"We're newbies," Tad said.
   
"It's a great sport. You'll be thrilled. But it can be treacherous if you don't know what you're doing. That's why we offer this free book How To Kayak Safely.  
   
Tad took the book. He and Elizabeth positioned themselves in The Blue  Dolphin and began a mock paddling.  
    
"Where we goin'?" Raul laughed.  
   
"Mexico!" 'David' and 'Josie' cheered.  
   
"Why Mexico? Friends?  Sightseeing?"    
   
Tad motioned a thumb back towards Elizabeth. "For her birthday."  
   
Raul smiled wistfully, confessed his great regret is he never had children.    
   
"Let me put it this way",Tad said,"It's not always a bed of roses but a solace."  
   
"Well said."  
   
"Is this the ship for 1200?" Tad queried,patting The Blue Dolphin's . prow.  
   
 "Yes. Will see you through rough seas or sudden shifts of weather.  
   
"O.K we'll take it," Tad said forcefully  
   
"OK, but let me make a suggestion. Since both of you are beginners at this ancient sport, i suggest you go back to your place, read the book and sleep on your decision for a night. You know, one of your popular presidents, President Kennedy never acted hastily, but always slept on an important issue before making a decision next day. What do you think?"  
   
Tad turned questingly towards Elizabeth for an answer.  
   
"He's right," she finally said.  
   
Like children the night before Christmas,Tad and  Elizabeth were too anxious to sleep imagining the morrow opening on their happiness  complete.  
   
   
   
DAY 26--RIDING THE UNEXPECTED  
   
Up early and full of  Mexico sunsets and of themselves as future safe mariners, they were brought to a sudden halt passing their motel's newsrack: KIDNAPPER AND 15-YEAR-OLD VICTIM REPORTED TRYING TO BUY A KAYAK IN SAN DIEGO STORE TO FLEE TO MEXICO    
   
The lovers quickly signed out, got in the Nissan and headed due east.  
   
"Where we goin' ?" Elizabeth asked.  
   
"Cuba."  
   
"You have flipped my good man."  
   
"No, think positive. We still have money for a kayak, and Cuba was opened to U.S. citizens in 2016. But first I want to buy you a dress."  
   
"Why?"  
   
"Because Easter is not far off."  
   
"You're right! I almost forgot."  
   
"Straw colored,with maybe a denim or gingham patch here or there. Long dress,almost to the ground Renaissance style. For myself I might get a cream colored sport coat. I have beige pants."  
   
"Yep," Elizabeth said dully.  
   
"You don't sound very happy."  
   
"I don't want to go to Cuba. Let's try Canada. Why would any one want to go to Cuba?"  
   
"Some of the finest musicians in the world."  
   
"Ha. Ha."  
   
"I think you're upset by Raul's betrayal."  
   
"Do you think he recognized us from the start?"  
   
"No.Most likely he saw us again on the evening news, and I'm sure he had been reading about us in the newspapers. All of a sudden something 'clicked'."  
   
So on they traveled arriving in Phoenix for a shopping spree at Macy's and hoping their trail will hold few alarms and nothing of any harm.    
   
--read more soon--