"Excuse me sir, I don't mean to disturb you, but are you on the flight going to London and Paris?" She asked.
"Why do you ask?" Arflin responded as he studied the young lady more closely trying to figure out what she might be thinking.
"My name is Susan. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to appear nosy, but this is my first time to fly and I am really nervous about it," she confessed.
Arflin was relieved when he found out the young lady's reason for watching him. She was looking for some reassurance from someone who had flown before telling her there was nothing to worry about. He just chuckled a little and told the young lady she was in for a special treat.
"It 's a whole other world once we get air born. All the nervousness and apprehensions you have now will be gone before you even know it. What seat are you in?" He asked as she took the ticket out of the envelope and handed it to him.
Arflin looked at the ticket and discovered the young lady was sitting next to him.
"Guess what? You are sitting next to me. Just follow my lead and do as I do and you will be just fine, " he said as he handed the ticket back to her.
Arflin looked at the clock on the waiting room wall. It was 12:40. The waiting room was beginning to fill up as people started arriving to catch their flights out.
"Where are you going Susan?" Arflin asked as he sat down next to her.
"My aunt lives in London. She invited me to spend the summer with her. Her only daughter died three years ago and she is very lonely. I have never been outside of Australia and am really looking forward to making this trip," Susan said above the sound over the intercom announcing an incoming flight.
"I know you will enjoy your flight and I shall enjoy your company," Arflin said as he patted the young lady on her shoulder.
This only magnified Arflin's sense of security. This young lady would be sitting next to him for the entire flight to London. He would convince her to tell anyone that asked they were traveling together. If per chance the law enforcement authorities might have gotten wise, they would be looking for a man traveling by himself and not a couple.
"There are so many con artist traveling these days it' s hard to tell who is sincere and who isn't. Just to be on the safe side if anyone approaches you and asks, tell them we are traveling together and they will leave you alone," Arflin looked at the young lady and winked.