THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603220192
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
Saturday, March 9
7:30 p.m. - On the tarmac of the St. Louis Airport.
A pack of high-school girls is yelping and howling uproariously in the back of a jet aircraft bound for Norfolk. The group's adult chaperones join in the mayhem.
Other passengers crane their necks around the high-backed seats to catch a glimpse of the rowdy party.
It is the Cape Henry Collegiate girls' soccer team, heading home from playing three matches in England during winter break. The coach has separated himself from the group, and is trying to sleep a dozen seats ahead.
As the jet's engines crank to life in a throaty whine, a flight attendant keys a microphone and delivers the FAA-required sermon.
In an even, mechanical tone, she explains the location of the plane's exits while her two counterparts point out the doors with measured flicks of their wrists. She speaks of oxygen masks and emergency procedures while her colleagues dutifully pantomime.
Then, come the seatbelt instructions.
``If you are traveling with a small child,'' the flight attendant says, ``or just someone who acts like one . . . ''
Her sentence is lost in laughter - from the adult passengers.
- Mike Mather
Thursday, March 14
7:05 p.m. - Regino's Italian restaurant at Hilltop.
A tall dark-haired young man, who is leaving the restaurant, holds the door open for incoming diners.
They thank him for his politeness and walk in.
But he remains in place outside, a bemused look on his face as he stands there holding the door. Then he laughs self-consciously and mutters, ``I guess I'll be going in, too. I forgot my pizzas.''
- Melinda Forbes
Friday, March 15
10 a.m. - First Colonial Road.
A shiny yellow Volkswagen beetle sports the license plate: LVMIBUG.
- Mary Reid Barrow
Sunday, March 17
2:20 p.m. - Brandon Road in Bay Colony.
Three neighbors come to a brief pause in Sunday afternoon yard work to exchange pleasantries.
The thirtyish woman, with an armload of tree branches clipped by her husband, says she welcomes the break in the weather to be outside.
Life inside during the weekend has become especially wearisome due to the ongoing televised coverage of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, she says.
``That basketball game has been going on for three days now,'' she adds, dumping the limbs atop a growing pile near the street.
The observation brings a sheepish grin from her husband, still lopping limbs nearby.
- Bill Reed
Monday, March 18
7 a.m. - North End.
Someone who loves holidays has taken to decorating the wooden fence on 67th Street between Atlantic Avenue and the feeder road. Cardboard cutouts of pastel Easter bunnies, Easter balloons and a orange plastic carrot decorate the fence. A shiny green shamrock is nailed to a corner post. A couple of red and white ribbons left over from the Valentine's Day balloons are still tied to the fence, too.
- Mary Reid Barrow
Tuesday, March 19
10 a.m. - Kempsville fast food outlet.
A sign in the window says ``Smiling Help Needed.''
Inside several counter people mill around, ignoring customers. One worker stands with her back to the customers, waiting for a single special item to be cooked, while the line of coffee breakers at the counter grows.
Another worker finally brings the breakfast order for a pair of senior citizens. When the man starts to walk away the worker yells, ``Hey, you gotta pay for that.'' A pair of customers both testify to the fact that the man has already paid and another worker appears, saying she was the one who took the money. At that point, the first worker turns on the second, berating her for having rung up the sale.
``Hey, does anyone in here pay any attention to that sign that says smiling help?'' a disgusted customer asks.
Several workers turn blank looks in the customer's direction.
``They don't have a clue,'' another customer sighs.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
11 a.m. - Virginia Beach District Court.
An older gentleman is filling out a form in the civil clerk's office.
``What's the date?'' he asks the woman behind the counter.
``The 19th,'' she responds.
``You see, when you're retired,'' he explains, ``you lose track of days, months, even years sometimes!''
``And the time, too,'' adds his companion standing nearby.
- Mary Reid Barrow
7:30 p.m. - Thalia Elementary.
A kindergarten class takes the stage to perform a song for International night. All of the students are singing except one towheaded boy. Coincidentally, he's the only one out of uniform, wearing a shirt with blue stripes instead of solid white.
Out in the hallway after the program, his mother is easily identifiable. She's the woman who laughs and says, ``I guess I didn't see the note about the shirt.''
- Mark Young
Wednesday, March 20
5:15 p.m. - Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway.
``Annoy a liberal,'' says the bumper sticker. ``Work hard and be happy.''
- Melinda Forbes ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Just out for a jog in the fog
Kathy Klamut jogs down Great Neck Road on a foggy Tuesday morning,
pushing her 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, in a stroller made for the
long haul. Klamut said she and Jessica were out for an 8- to 10-mile
run.
by CNB