[Note: Rated PG. This story is set in the late Seventies, in the hey-day of Saturday Night Live.]

2pm on a Tuesday afternoon. I am walking down a rather badly lit corridor in NBC’s Studio premises carrying handfuls of scripts that I have just spent the last hour binding ready for rehearsals of Saturday Night Live this coming weekend.

I stop by various writers’ offices dropping off their copies respectively. My poor arms feel an inch or two longer whenever I get given this task!! I don’t normally do it, but Sheila who usually does it happened to be off sick.

Because of my job being based ‘upstairs’ I have never really met any of the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” as they are known. Only fleeting glimpses here and there.

I rounded a blind corner and was almost run over by Dan Aykroyd, tall, handsome and slender and one of the most popular SNL regulars.

“Oops, sorry!” he said, rather hurriedly. His mind was obviously elsewhere. “Those the scripts for this weekend’s show?” “Yeah” I replied.

“You want yours now?” I ask, tentatively. “Sure, it’ll save you an extra trip.”

I hand him his copy and as he stands studying it, muttering over the technicalities, I gather up the remaining scripts and continue on my way.

“Hey!” barks a voice behind me. I turn round rather startled. “What’s this?!” Dan asks, rather flustered. “I’m sorry?” I ask politely.

“This!” he points to a section of dialogue. I walk over and read it, but can’t see anything the matter. “Sorry, I don’t follow?”

“I thought Lorne* was going to take that out?!”

I look at him sheepishly, even though I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. “Well I can only suggest you speak to him about it, I didn’t type this particular script and in any case we only do what we get told to do.”

“I know.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take it out on you.” He patted my shoulder reassuringly. I smiled at him.

“It gets very frustrating at times I can tell you!” “We all appreciate how seriously you guys take this stuff, but it would be nice for everyone to agree once in a while!!” I put on my most appeasing expression, hoping to calm his wrath.

“Yeah, I realise it must be difficult for you lot with us changing our minds every five minutes!” he returned the smile and seemed to be calmer.

We part company and on my return I had to pass by Lorne Michaels office and I could hear raised voices coming from inside. “Oh dear!” I thought to myself!

When I got back to my desk I said to Lucy, my colleague and fellow script typist, “Dan’s in there (Lorne’s office) right now remonstrating with Lorne, so you’d better be ready for a last minute change again!!”

Lucy tutted and shook her head in disbelief. “Will they ever get it right first time…?” she says, but suddenly stopping short.

“Well, we shouldn’t really criticise perfectionism” I added. I suddenly became aware that there was someone behind me and turned around.

“Oh!” I laugh. Dan was standing there with Lorne. “Sorry!” I add quickly.

“It’s OK, I don’t knock compliments!” Dan chuckled. I felt really embarrassed so I hurriedly sat down and got on with my next task!!

After they’d gone the whole office burst into fits of laughter, myself included, albeit a bit flushed!! “You nearly had it there Julia!” Lucy chuckled.

“Yeah!” “Fortunately he took it the right way!” I replied. I carried on typing and the moment soon passed.

Around 4-ish I wandered down to the stores to fetch some more script covers, as we were clean out. On the way I again ran into Dan, though not literally! Twice in one day is more than enough I thought!

“Hello again” he smiled. “Hello!” I replied, rather coolly.

“We shall have to stop meeting like this, people will start talking!” he chuckled. I giggled back and went to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm and stopped me.

“Look about earlier, I hope I didn’t cause too much grief up there?” he seemed genuinely concerned.

“It’s OK, we’re used to it now” I smiled. “I’ll try and give you more warning next time!” he said. “OK” I replied, grinning like a Cheshire cat! He caught me off guard and was making feel a bit vulnerable.

“Where you off to anyway?” he asked. “Oh, only down to the basement to fetch some more script covers, we tend to get through rather a lot!” I replied, trying to hide my awkwardness.

“Better not hold you up any longer then had I?!” he laughed. We parted company once more.

It was 5pm before I thought any more of the day’s excitement. Danny, as he preferred to be called by his friends, had always been one of the controversial ones, always questioning everything and everyone!

I was just about to make tracks when Lorne boned me for a lengthy discussion! He had a habit of doing that! You’re just about to put your coat on and he pounces on you! The fact that he’s had all day to talk to you doesn’t seem to make any difference whatsoever!!

By the time we were done everyone else had gone. I put my bag on my desk and stood arguing with my coat’s tie strap, which had a habit of tangling itself in such a way that it took at least five minutes to unravel it!!

I heard Lorne’s door go and him clunking down the stairs. He’d only got to the first landing when I heard voices. The other voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.

“Oh this stupid thing!” I shouted out loud. Both the voices paused then continued for a moment. Presently I heard footsteps coming up towards our office.

“Need a hand?” said a familiar voice. It was Danny! I looked up startled, “Oh, it’s only this wretched thing on my coat!” “Does it all the time!” I was flustered and must’ve come across very grouchy!!

“Let me see?” he said, taking my coat from my grasp. He must’ve had the magic touch or something because he untangled it in a trice!!

“Thanks!” I said. “That’s OK” he replied, smiling at me.

“Did you get your script sorted in the end?” I ask, changing the subject and breaking his stare.

“Huh?” “Oh, yeah” he replied, suddenly coming back to Planet Earth from whichever other world he’d zoomed off to.

“Oh good” I replied. I put my coat on and picking up my bag, “Look I gotta scoot” I said, it was getting on for 5.15pm and my stomach was telling me that I was running on empty!! Of course it had to let out a loud gurgle at precisely that moment!!

“Ooh, excuse me!” I said, embarrassed. “Sounds like your hungry?” Dan replied. “Come on I know a good place to eat!” Before I could answer he took my arm and whisked me off down the stairs! We’d walked a couple of blocks before I found myself in a rather smart looking Café called ‘Tino’s’. I’d not tried this one yet, though it was a little too far from the NBC Studio’s to make it a suitable place to go at lunchtime.

We enjoyed a good meal and chatted about all sorts, though Danny would steer the conversation towards my life at every opportunity!! Not that much ever happened to me!!

“How long you worked at NBC?” he asked. “About 18 months” I replied. “Ah, didn’t think I’d seen you around that much before.”

“No well, I don’t get much of a chance to get out of our department” I added. “Same here, I don’t go upstairs, except when I have to!” he chuckled back.

“What’s your favourite skit?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject. “Ooh, I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that one!” I laughed. He looked at me inquisitively.

“Well, I can’t say as I have one really, I like them all pretty much.” My reply seemed to quench his curiosity, at least for the time being.

“How’d you like the Blues Brothers routine?” This was his latest newbie along with his cohort John Belushi. They had been performing as them for some time before the show went on air each week and now the decision had been made to include it in SNL as another musical act.

“It’s good!” I said, enthusiastically. I thought Dan looked very dishy in that outfit! Though I didn’t dare tell him so!! I hadn’t even told anyone else, in case he found out!! “I like that kind of music myself” I added. He just nodded and changed the subject yet again.

“Is there anyone else?” he asked, speaking softly. Unfortunately I was in a little world of my own, having been completely swept off my feet by actually sitting here and having dinner with Dan Aykroyd, one of the most famous men in America these days!!! To tell you the absolute truth I couldn’t believe my luck!!!

“Sorry?” I sputtered. “You seein’ someone?” I think he must’ve picked up on my awkwardness and misread it, thinking my mind was on another.

“Oh, no!” “Not lived here long enough to really get to know anyone in that way” I added, desperately trying to change the subject again.

He smiled at me and took my hand. “Good” he replied, coolly. My mind was all over the place. What on earth did he mean by that!! I tried to snatch my hand back, but my arm wasn’t working and only managed a slight twitch.

I smiled back, awkwardly, hoping he would give me my hand back. Instead he held it tighter. “Wanna go to the Blues Bar?” he asked. I’d heard of this private bar that he and John had, but had never been keen to go, as it meant passing through some pretty nasty areas of the city to reach it.

“Well...” I started. “It’s OK, you’ll be fine with me!” he laughed reassuringly. I relaxed, thinking that they’d always been OK there.

We got up and Danny paid the bill. He walked us back to NBC where his car, (and mine for that matter!), was parked. It took best part of an hour to reach the Blues Bar, owing to the heavy traffic.

When we arrived he had to open up, as it was far too early for anyone else to be there. Inside there were all sorts of pictures on the walls. Most of them were of the Blues Brothers with their band and various other folks. There was a Juke Box in one corner and Danny set it going.

“Drink?” he asked. “Err, OK, just a soft one for me please, I’m afraid I don’t touch alcohol at all.” “Why not?” “Just don’t like the taste of it.” “Tastes like paint stripper to me!” Danny smiled and fetched me a rather large cola! He poured himself a beer and we sat down at one of the tables.

We’d been chatting for about half an hour when all of a sudden he took my hand again. “Julia” he paused. I looked at him and he took my other hand. I felt a rush of something pulse through my entire body, though I knew I couldn’t let things get out of hand. Well at least if I could help it!!

Suddenly he got up, walked round to my side of the table and sat next to me. Before I knew quite what was happening he’d planted a deep kiss on me!! Why me? I thought!!! What had I done to get this sort of preferential treatment I wondered!!

I pulled back unsure of a) his motives and b) what to do next!! He looked at me slightly puzzled. I must’ve had a really confused expression on my face because he asked, “Sorry am I takin’ things too fast?”

“Well…” pausing. “I must admit this sort of thing doesn’t usually happen to me!” I laughed. He smiled back and said, “I learned a long time ago that you have to make opportunities.”

“That’s very true” I agreed. However, what had I said to myself earlier about not letting things get out of hand!!

I tried to think of another excuse to get me out of this rather sticky situation, but before I had the chance he’d got hold of my hands again and was making circling motions on my palms with his thumbs.

I felt my eyes glaze over and smiled contentedly. He could obviously sense the rise in my body temperature as well!! After all Dan was one of the most handsome guys around!!

Before long I was returning the ‘hand cuddles’!! A short while later we were hugging each other and kissing like I’ve never been kissed before.

As he nuzzled his face into my neck and shoulders he whispered in my ear, “You feel good!” I chuckled back and cuddled him some more. “So do you” I replied, softly.

We were suddenly interrupted when John Belushi and his ‘other half’ Judy barged in. Judy made a beeline for the washroom and John stood near the bar looking at us. “Sorry, did we interrupt?” he asked.

“It’s OK” Dan replied, smiling at me. John came over and sat opposite us. He looked at Danny in a mischievous manner before looking at me and grinning. “Is he looking after you?” he asked. “Mmm” I replied, taking a mouthful of cola.

A moment later a whole group of folks came in and started to mingle and jig about to the Sam and Dave tune blaring from the Juke Box. I let Danny and John chat while I watched the others dance.

They chin wagged about the rehearsals earlier in the day and after about 5 minutes Judy came and sat next to John. “Hello” she said to me. “Hi” I replied. Dan introduced me, “This is Julia, she works upstairs in Admin.”

“Thought I’d seen your face some place!” John laughed. I smiled back at him, although I was rather distracted by Dan who was stroking my left knee!!

“Don’t let him misbehave!” John said, chuckling. I gathered he knew what Dan was doing, as I probably had it written all over my face!! I looked at Dan, put my left hand on his right and then looked back at John. “I won’t!” I replied, giggling.

Presently someone hailed John’s attention and he and Judy got up and walked over to the bar. I noticed the time on the clock above the bar, 10.30pm.

“Wanna call it a night?” Dan asked as I tried to stifle a yawn. “OK, it’s been a long day, though I have a day’s holiday tomorrow.” Dan’s face suddenly lit up!

“Great, that means you won’t mind if I keep you up all night then!” he laughed. “Well…I do like my beauty sleep, I can’t guarantee to stay awake!” I replied, somewhat startled.

“Oh, course, you’re a 9 to 5-er aren’t ya!” he said, remembering that not everyone lives life the way he and John do!

We left the Blues Bar and headed off to Dan’s apartment. I couldn’t stop myself from yawning big time when we arrived. “Ooh dear, excuse me!” I laughed.

Danny returned the chuckle. “Haven’t worn you out already have I?” he asked. “Unfortunately I’m very much a creature of habit and it’s extremely hard to break it!” I replied.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” “I find with show business that things happen all over the place and I don’t think I could get used to the sort of ‘regular’ job you have!”

My eyes were feeling very tired and I kept trying to stop myself from yawning too much. I’d no idea what was going to happen next. I hoped he was going to take me back home, eventually!

Suddenly Dan cuddled up to me and held my hands in his. He started doing that thumb-circling thing on my palms again and I could feel myself beginning to flush with adrenalin.

“You sure you’re OK with this?” he asked as he looked into my eyes. “Well…” I paused. “I’m just not used to it that’s all.”

“Last time I had a boyfriend, I had known him for a while before anything more ‘serious’ happened and even then it didn’t work out.” “It takes me a while to get to know people, I feel I need to be able to trust them first.” I tried to sound sincere. I liked Danny and had always admired him from a distance, but having him wave the ‘olive branch’ like he was, was a bit too much.

He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. “Trrrruuust in me…” he half sang, like Ka the snake from Disney’s The Jungle Book!!

I giggled at his imitation. “No, no I haven’t got time for all that sort of thing” I replied in my best Shere Khan voice.

“Sssome other time, perhaps?” Dan responded. We both chuckled over our rather splendid rendition of that scene. The humorous moment seemed to ‘break the ice’ a little.

Dan moved his arm down my back and cuddled my waist. He used his other arm to pull me round so I was facing him. “I liked you from the first moment I saw you” he whispered.

All I could do was smile at him, as I couldn’t think of a suitable response. I put my hands on his arms, although I was still very unsure of myself.

“Thanks” I said, finally. “I knew you would be someone I could trust in” Dan replied, smiling. “Don’t you trust in John?” I asked, wondered if I should’ve said that.

“Yeah, of course, we’re mates, but it’s not quite the same thing, ya know!” He was trying to explain that having friends and a ‘girl/boy friend’ are two quite different things.

“Mmm, I see what you’re getting at” I replied.

Once we’d got that hurdle out of the way, things took a noticeable faster pace. He held me closer and tighter than before. It wasn’t long before long we were kissing like we’d known each other for years.

He laid me back on the sofa and climbed on top of me. He unbuttoned my coat followed by my blouse. I winced a little, as his hands were rather cold!

“Don’t worry, they’ll soon warm up!” he reassured me! And he was right!!

He was still wearing his leather jacket, so he sat up and took that off. He only had a chequered shirt on underneath and he unbuttoned it, but didn’t remove it. After all the room was a little on the chilly side!

I put my arms around him, under his shirt and cuddled him tightly. “Mmm, that’s nice” he murmured. I chuckled a little, wondering what was going through his mind! Having said that, need I guess!!

After a few moments, “Lets go somewhere more comfortable” he whispered in my ear. We got up and he walked me to the bedroom.

We took turns to use the bathroom and when he came back he practically leaped on top of me! Fortunately I was sitting on the edge of the bed at the time, so I avoided landing in a clumsy heap!!

“Oops, careful!” I laughed as he nearly fell over the edge of the bed! “Shift up!” he replied, chuckling at his own clumsiness.

I scooted further back onto the bed and sat up with my knees under my chin. That was until he pushed them down again and lay on top of me!

“Still tired?” he asked. “A little” I replied. We kissed for a while before crawling into bed and dropping off to sleep. But not before we’d had our fun of course!!

Next morning we woke up quite late. Dan made us some breakfast and then we headed out to one of his favourite ‘get away from it all’ spots.

“It’s lovely here” I commented. The sun was shining and it was really warm. The kind of day that really makes you feel alive.

“I come here whenever I need to forget my life for a few hours” he replied. “The business can get you down and this helps me bounce back.”

We spent most of the day there. Towards the middle of the afternoon, “I’d better get you home, else your boss won’t be pleased with me if l let you go in tomorrow all disheveled!!” We laughed and walked back to the car.

Dan dropped me off at the parking lot underneath the main NBC building, while he went off for more pre-show work.

“I’ll see you again sometime, yeah?” he asked hopefully, but with a little uncertainty in his voice. “Sure, I don’t see why not” I replied. “Call me” I added, handing him my number.

We parted on a small kiss and I drove back home. Being in the house alone after all last night’s excitement really made me notice how empty the place was.

The next day back in the office the cat had been well and truly let out of the bag!!! Someone from SNL must’ve seen me at the Blues Bar with Dan!!!

“I hear you had a wild time on Tuesday night?” Lucy asked me, giggling her head off. “What do you mean by wild?” I asked, trying to play it down.

“A little bird tells me you went to the Blues Bar with Dan Aykroyd!” she chuckled. By now everyone else in the office had their attention on me as well!

“Yeah, well, he invited me!” I said. “Couldn’t really say no, could I?!” “What on earth would he have thought of me!” I added.

“True” Lucy replied. “What’s he like?” Gemma asked. “He’s cool” I replied. “Very pleasant once he drops that ‘working’ exterior.”

I sat down at my desk and began to get on with catching up after my day off. A little later Lorne Michaels came in, spoke to Lucy briefly and turned to me, “How was your date with Danny?” The whole office erupted in laughter!!

“Does everyone know?!” I kinda shouted and was rather frustrated! “Sure” Lorne replied, chuckling.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it a date” I answered, lying through my teeth. “He invited me to the Blues Bar that’s all!”

“Did he behave himself?” Gemma asked, giggling excitedly. “Of course!” I retorted, slightly embarrassed. “I wouldn’t let him do otherwise!” I chuckled.

“That’s not what I heard!” Lorne giggled. I made a disapproving face at him. “Nothing daft happened!” I said, with a ‘get off my back’ tone of voice.

Fortunately and to my rescue Lorne was called to the studio and the interrogation ended.

At lunchtime Lucy and I went out to our favourite Café as usual. “What really happened the other night?” she asked.

“I already told you it all!” I laughed. “We had dinner at Tino’s and then went to the Blues Bar.” “So how come your car was here (at NBC) pretty much all day yesterday then?!” I didn’t dare tell her the real reason!!

“We were out all night and he took me to one of his favourite ‘unwinding’ spots yesterday” I replied. The answer seemed to satisfy her curiosity.

I was spared any more questions from then on, but of course there were fits of giggles if Dan ever came into our office for any reason!! We didn’t speak of anything other than work if others were present.

I didn’t see Dan again until after the show that Saturday. “Everyone else is going to the Blues Bar” he said, “Think I’d better not take you there again.” “I know you got hammered pretty well the last time.”

“Thanks” I replied. “But I think everyone knows the story now.” “I doubt very much if it will make a difference!” So we headed off to the Blues Bar with John and Judy.

We spent the whole weekend together in fact and had a wonderful time. “I’d like to spend a lot more time with you, if you’d like?” Dan asked.

“Sure, why not!” “I’ve had more fun with you than I’ve had for years!” I replied, laughing.

Over the following six months we had a lot of fun and plan to stay together at least for the time being. I’m secretly hoping that we will remain together on a permanent basis, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds in store.