Page 14 of The Summer Request
The champagne had gone to Lisa’s head. She turned her goofy, smiling face toward Michelle, who had only just pried her fingers off of the armrest.
“See? In first class, flying isn’t so bad,” Val said, downing the rest of the whiskey sour she’d hidden from the flight attendant.
“I just don’t understand why we couldn’t have gone to Santa Monica first, then Miami, and then Maine,” Michelle said. “Why do we have to fly back and forth across the country so many times? The flights are so long, and our carbon footprint is – ”
Lisa cut her off. “I’m sure Justine thought it was part of the fun. You know, spending more time in first class. I know I enjoyed it.”
Lisa never thought she’d get to fly first class. She loved everything about it, from the hot towel when she got on board to the drinks to the little cheeses that came individually wrapped. She took a dozen pictures to show her kids.
Val popped up from her seat and fluffed her long, blonde hair. Somehow she always managed to keep it looking nice. “We get to get off first, too. The perks never end!”
Lisa agreed. First class was the way to live. If only she’d ever had money. It was just a small complication, really.
She giggled to herself before following Val off the plane in a giddy haze.
The Miami airport matched her mood, bursting with life and lights and sound. Beeping motorized carts flew by as people darted to their gates. There was a rowdy group drinking at a nearby bar, and there seemed to be some sort of breakdancing practice at an empty gate.
Heavenly smells drifted from the restaurants along the walkway. Lisa rolled her suitcase behind her, feeling like she was floating on a cloud. Would it be ridiculous for her to grab a snack before they left? There might not be anything close to the hotel.
“Does anyone want to split a pizza?” she asked.
Val shook her head. “I’m still full from the plane.”
“You didn’t eat anything!”
Val shrugged in response.
Lisa tried to catch up to Michelle to see if she’d agree to something, but she was too far ahead.
“Slow down! It’s not a race!” Lisa called out.
Michelle stopped and turned around. “We don’t want to miss our bags. I never should’ve checked mine. What if it didn’t get on the plane?”
Val and Lisa exchanged looks, but before they could say anything, Michelle was off again, yelling over her shoulder. “Come on!”
“Ooh, you’re introuble,” Val cooed.
“I already have my bag. I can’t be rushed,” Lisa said, head held high. “I haven’t had a vacation in years. I’m going to go as slow as possible.”
She and Val sauntered through the airport, giggling like school girls. They were debating the practicality of getting a massage in the middle of the airport while Michelle glared at them from afar.
She was not amused. “How much did you guys drink on the plane?”
“Not enough,” Val said, taking a wobbly step onto the escalator.
Lisa followed, more stable since she wasn’t wearing heels. “Oh look! That billboard has a killer whale on it. Do you want to go see the whale, Shell? We can add that to the itinerary for you.”
“No!” Michelle let out a huff. “Absolutely not. I’m not going to support them keeping her captive in that tiny tank. Do you know it’s only twenty feet deep, and she’s twenty feet long!”
“Is that so?”
“The tank is only thirty-five feet wide. It’s a crime.”
“Don’t tell me you know her?” Val said, a smile dancing on her lips. “The whale?”
“I do, and both of you should, too.” Michelle stared at them, waiting for response. When none came, she pushed on. “That’s Lolita. Her Salish name is Tokitae. Does that ring a bell?”
“You’re on a first name basis with this whale?” Val put her hands up. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended your relationship.”
