Page 17 of The Hitchhiker in Panama
“Silver Liningback to seven-four.”
“Why the long face, bub?” Edith asked.
“My flight is on March second. I would have to change it.”
“Can you do that?”
“I don’t know. I have to look at the policy. But it’s not just changing my flight. I’d planned out three months total, with the first three weeks here. If I extend my stay in Panama, I’d have to cut something out.”
“How important is it to you to go through the canal?”
I sighed and massaged my forehead. “I was really excited. Iamreally excited.”
Edith nodded. “Go look into the fees for changing your flight. No sense in getting too worked up about it if you lose all your money or something.”
“Good point.” I grabbed my phone, waved bye, and headed to the pool to use the Wi-Fi.
I sat in a chair under an umbrella and pulled up my flight details to look for the rebooking policy. I could rebook my flight for $250, and the cheapest flight was on March 7. I did some quick math; by staying onSilver Lining,I’d only stayed two nights at the hotel, and I would have to pay for a few nights once I got back to Panama City. I knew the rates for the hostels in the area and there were some cheap places, though they weren’t in the best areas. I had wanted to stay in the Casco Viejo, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience would be worth it, right?
I winced as I tapped the confirm button, but I tried to mentally refocus myself on the canal. I had a boat to hitchhike on, and I was one step closer to achieving my goal.
* * *
Back onSilver Lining, I asked Edith if I could stay a few more days with them untilEikleft.
“Of course, dear. But don’t you want to move over toEik?”
We were sitting in the cockpit, having wraps for lunch.
“Yeah, nah. I would prefer to stay here if you’ll have me.”
Edith gave me a pointed look. “What about the young man? Eivind?”
“What about him?”
“Don’t give me that innocent face. You get all happy and dreamy every time you mention him.”
I swallowed the last bite of my wrap. “Nothing’s going to happen with Eivind. I don’t want things to be awkward.”
Edith nodded sagely. “Good plan—avoid him instead. Keep him on his toes.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know it’s not a great plan.” I flopped onto my back. “He’s just so . . .”
“You could climb him like a tree.”
I quirked an eyebrow at her.
“I think that’s what the kids are calling it these days.”
“In Straya we would say ‘rooting.’” I wrinkled my forehead. “I wonder why we have all the plant metaphors.”
“Whichever plant metaphor you go with, what is going on with Eivind?”
“Nothing. How can there be? He’ll be out of my life when we get to Panama City.”
“I would think a young woman as adventurous as you would be open to meeting an exotic lover”—she waggled her eyebrows—“while traveling.”
I startled and looked up at Edith. “You think I’m adventurous?”
