Chapter 50
Waiting for Clearance
“We don’t even argue. He just declares reality is unprovable.
Dad, what did the files say?
Do I have enough to walk away and not get a fight from him?”
“Listen Pumpkin, living your life alone is not an easy thing to do.
You want to think about this.”
“Dad, you said you’d read it for me.
Since you’re not wanting to tell me, I’m assuming that means there’s enough to get me out of this marriage safely.”
“I just want you to think about it.”
“Dad, I’m telling you, I’m leaving him.
I’m not asking for your advice.”
“You need to do this carefully, Lee Ann.”
“I’ve got a plan.
I’m moving to our next station.
I’m taking a plane to Texas.
Austin is ready with my teaching certification.
They said they could walk me through in a day.
I’m not saying anything to him yet.
To divorce, there has to be a six-month separation.
This time will count.
If I try life on my own and can’t handle it…
Then, he’ll never know.”
“When do you fly out?”
“A month ahead of the start of school, while Jane’s stateside…”
Two weeks later…
“Dad, plans changed. I got food poisoning.”
“You’re sure it’s not a virus?”
“I bit into a rancid pepperoni last night. Reflexes sent it down and not up.”
“I tried to get on the plane anyway, but the airport said no. I couldn’t fly with a fever.”
“They think you are contagious.”
“I don’t even really have a fever!”
“If you look bad enough for them to notice… You should get checked out.”
“That’s what I’m doing now. They gave me one phone call, so I called you.”
“Robert doesn’t know you’re in the ER?”
“The ER doesn’t even know I’m in the ER! They’ve all been calling me Snow White!”
He laughed at that.
“Will you try calling Robert’s office and home numbers and let him know I didn’t make the plane? I don’t want to hear the disappointment.”
“I sure can Pumpkin.”
“Dad, I’ve got to change everything. It’s two weeks for another free flight out. I had job interviews scheduled. They will be filled by then. Hotels were booked. Oh no! Austin! I hope the lady I’ve been dealing with is understanding. There’s no point in going if I’m not certified.”
“Butterflies, baby.”
“All of the dang bats are in my stomach right now! Don’t say anything else to Robert! Let him know I don’t need a ride home.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Two weeks later…
“What? No. $490 for a ticket to Dallas?”
“Yes ma’am. That’s the cheapest I can get it.”
“I’m stuck here in Jacksonville, Florida…
How does it go from me being quoted $80 to 490?
That has to be false advertising.”
“Ma’am, I’m trying to help you. Could you tell me when you were quoted the $80 price?”
I’m holding up the ticket line.
I glance behind me.
The line is only four deep.
I’ve never been in an airport this small.
“I’m sorry? What?”
“When were you quoted the $80 price?”
“Right before I got food poisoning.
Two weeks ago?”
“That’s it ma’am.
I’m sorry.
Everybody knows that prices change as the date to fly gets closer.”
No. No. No.
I’ve got every penny planned.
I would have to phone dad.
Get money wired.
“Is… Is there a phone around here?
I can call collect.”
“Miss, are you a military dependent?”
I turned to look at the face that was attached to the hand touching my shoulder.
“Yes, I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to hold up the line.
I just have no idea how ticket pricing works.
I thought I could buy it for the price quoted when I got here.”
Corndog.
“Ma’am. Let’s just take a minute and pull you together.
Gather your things and bring your ID over here.”
“Are you with the…
No, you aren’t.”
I notice, for the first time the military uniform.
I see familiar stars on a collar,
but not the familiar face wearing it.
He had concern in his eyes.
“Listen little missy.
I have a plane with an extra seat.
I heard you were trying to fly to Dallas?”
He handed my dependent military ID to his aide.
His aide somehow scanned my card.
It worked like a hand held fax machine.
There is so much going on right now I do not understand.
“Now, if your identification checks out, I can offer you a free seat on that flight.”
“Sir? Really?”
His aide nodded a quick yes while handing my identification back to the General.
How did they just do that without fiber optics?
“Are you headed toward your soldier?”
“No, Sir, I’m headed toward our next station.
He’ll be following me.”
None of that is a lie.
Just the sin of omission.
“There will be rules once you are on the plane.
There is a restroom that you can use.
You won’t be allowed to talk to me.
You won’t be allowed to walk around.
It’s a short flight.
We’ll get there fast.
Can you go by all those rules.”
He smiled down at my happy face.
I realized luck turned on a matter of minutes.
I was an inconvenience to him.
If he had been in front of me, none of this would be happening.
It dawned on me his last statement was a question.
“Can you go by all those rules?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Let’s get you on your way then.”
I can’t wait to talk to Dad.
I was escorted onto a private jet. It was simple.
The interior of the plane was bright.
Sterile.
The aide was in charge of me.
“You’ll be sitting here ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
“Here’s a pillow and blanket.”
I settled in without covering my head.
There was no forty minutes taxing.
No need for clearance.
Take off was seamless.
No one was even told to be seated.
I was asleep before the wheels were tucked in.
Daniel's Den 