Gwendy's Magic Feather

72

“ALL SET,” RYAN SAYS, jogging across the street. They pick up their suitcases and head down the sidewalk toward Baggage Check.

“What took you so long?” Gwendy asks.

“Elevator was out of order. Had to walk down three floors. Then I realized I’d forgotten to lock the damn car, so I had to walk all the way back up again.”

Gwendy laughs. “My little worrywart.”

“Learned it from you,” he says, sticking his tongue out at her.

She puts a hand on his arm, stopping him, suddenly serious. “I was thinking about what you said. In the car.”

He gives her a questioning look.

“You were right,” she says. “When I get there tomorrow, I’ll listen and learn, and then I’ll do the work. Whatever it takes. However long it takes.”

He leans close to her so their foreheads are touching. “Now that sounds like the Gwendy Peterson I know.”

“How may I help you, folks?” the smiling man sitting inside the booth asks.

“We’re on Flight 117,” Ryan says, checking the paperwork. “Scheduled to take off at 3:10. We’d like to check three bags please.”

The man picks up a clipboard and scribbles something on a sheet of paper. “Can I see your IDs, please?”

Ryan pulls out his wallet and shows the man his driver’s license. Gwendy fishes her license out of the side pocket of her purse and slides it across the counter. The man picks it up, double-checks the name, and then hands it back to her. “That’ll do it,” he says. He walks out from behind the booth and places their bags into one of the oversized carts. Unclipping a walkie-talkie from his belt, he keys the button and says, “Flight 117 baggage pick-up. Come and get ’em, Johnny.”

A muffled voice answers, “Copy that, boss, be there in a flash.”

Gwendy and Ryan start walking up the sidewalk toward the main building, but Gwendy turns back after a couple of steps and returns to the luggage cart. She throws her empty carry-on bag in with the others. Then she reaches into her coat pocket. “Here you go, sir. Happy New Year.” She tosses something to the man inside the booth.

He reaches up and snags it. Staring down at the shiny silver coin lying heads-up in his palm, his face brightens. “Hey, now, thank you very kindly, ma’am.”

Gwendy laughs. She turns around and takes Ryan’s hand and they walk into the airport together.