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Epic. Kelly Wilson
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“Your ticket…I’ve upgraded you to first-class and you can go through.”
“Uh, thanks. I think I’ll wait for my mother to finish speaking with George before going through to the gate.”
“Your choice,” Amanda said acidly.
Mom and George strolled over. Whatever George had told Mom made her act as though she had just heard that someone had died.
“Mom, are you okay?” I asked, concerned.
“Yes, Scotia, but I wish you would rethink your trip,” Mom pleaded.
“Oh Mom, you worry way too much. I’ll be fine.”
“I wish that were the truth,” she whispered.
“Pardon?” I asked.
“Nothing, honey. Go, and I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Again, it seemed like Mom knew the truth, but that was impossible. I had never told anyone why I was really leaving, especially Mom. I gave her a huge hug, grabbed my bag, and began following George through to the security area. Right before I entered the metal detector I turned to catch one last glimpse of the amazing woman who had raised me, but a cloud of dread was all that I could see across my mother’s face.
Vancouver International Airport had recently acquired a new X-ray machine. It was the type of contraption that allowed not only for baggage scanning but also for full body scans. I was not too sure whether they would be able to detect my undergarments or whether the machine simply allowed for visualization of extraneous objects. Since the 9-11 terrorist attack, no country was taking any chances, especially with international flights.
As I walked through the X-ray machine, the security officer started to fiddle with some knobs.
“Uh…excuse me, miss, you’ll have to walk through again.”
Great, just what I need. I sighed, then spun around and walked through the X-ray machine for a second time. This time, the guard had a puzzled expression on his face, and I heard him mutter, “Weird!” under his breath. The guard then turned toward his colleague at the next X-ray machine. “Hey, Stan, can you come here for a minute? I think there’s something wrong with this machine.”
“Josh, I’m a little swamped here, just call the supervisor.”
Josh picked up the phone and after a few seconds started to talk .
“Hey, Chelsea, sorry to bother you, but my machine seems to be acting up…yeah, okay, thanks.”
Josh hung up the phone, looked at me sympathetically, and said, “Sorry, miss, but you’ll need to wait for about five minutes.”
“Is there a problem?” I asked “I really need to catch a plane.”
“This shouldn’t take too long. I truly am sorry, but my machine is having a hard time picking up your image on the screen.”
“Oh come on,” I said in an exasperated tone.
“Sorry,” Josh replied sheepishly and shrugged.
I was ready to start an argument but withheld for two reasons. One, I knew it was not Josh’s fault that his machine was having a total meltdown, and two, when I looked closely at Josh I realized he was only about eighteen years old. This was probably a summer position for him before undertaking an undergraduate program in law enforcement or pre-law. Plus, he truly did seem sorry for this mishap. The passengers behind me were now being redirected to the other two X-ray machines in the area by an older, more experienced looking security officer, who looked as if he had not smiled in years. His face seemed to hold a permanent scowl. George, whom I thought had left, was waiting for me on the other side of the machine. He looked concerned but appeared to be waiting patiently. Why was he still here? Did he not have a plane to catch or, for that matter, to fly? Our eyes met and again I had a strange sensation. I shrugged it off and proceeded to walk to the seat located at the left side of the machine. The other passengers were giving me dirty looks. I could feel my face turning beet red with embarrassment, so I bowed my head to keep from any other unpleasant gazes.
I was about to sit down when a beautiful, tall, blonde woman in a navy blue skirt and jacket approached. She must have been the lady whom Josh had contacted by phone, because she was walking straight toward Josh.
“Okay, Josh, what seems to be the problem?” she asked in a monotone voice.
“Not sure, Chelsea, but the machine is having a hard time scanning her,” Josh answered, pointing in my direction.
“Hmm, let’s check your settings,” Chelsea answered, and moved in closer to the X-ray machine. “Strange. Your settings are right.” She glanced at me. “Okay, miss, why don’t you go through again.”
Once again I got up and passed through the machine, and once again it did not pick up my image.
“Was the machine having trouble with anyone else?” Chelsea questioned Josh.
“No, ma’am.”
“Okay, miss, you’ll need to go through another machine.”
Chelsea was escorting me over to another machine when George interjected. “She’s flying with me, and I really need to get to my flight.”
“Sorry, Captain, but as you know, this is a security issue,” Chelsea responded.
George put his hand on Chelsea’s arm and whispered something into her ear.
“Ummm, sure,” Chelsea responded, but her eyes appeared glazed over.
“Miss, I’m just going to escort you to the security office, and I’m sure we can get this matter straightened out,” Chelsea’s monotonous voice droned.
I was now glad that George had waited. I picked up my bag and started to follow Chelsea to her office, bypassing the X-ray machines altogether. As soon as we had gone around the corner and were out of sight of the other security officers, Chelsea turned to both George and myself and said, “Okay, miss, you may go.”
“What, just like that?”
“Yes, just like that. You can thank your friend here,” Chelsea said, looking at George.
George never broke her gaze and smiled.
“I-I don’t under…”
“Let’s get going, Scotia. We don’t want to miss our flight.”
George grabbed my hand and diverted us away from the direction in which we had been walking with Chelsea. “Let’s take the tunnel to the gate. That way we don’t have to pass by the security area again.”
“Wh-what happened there, George? Why did Chelsea let me go without any problems, and why are you even here?”
“Let’s just say that I’m your guardian angel.”
“Well, you must be because you managed to get me out of two very unpleasant situations today.”
George chuckled but remained quiet.
“How do you know my mom?”
“Samantha is like a sister to me.”
“You certainly are very secretive, George.”
“Sometimes, less is more, my dear girl, less is more.”
I wondered what else George had been keeping from me, and for that matter what he had said to Mom to make her look so…frightened.
I was about to probe further when I noticed that we had arrived at my gate.
“Here we are, Scotia. Can I leave you alone now, without you getting into too much trouble?”
“Yes, I’m sure I’ll be alright.”
“Good. I need to get over to my plane.”
“You