Thomas took a look into the soft-sided carrier and sighed at the low growl that Spinner made. Looking around the terminal, the hustle and bustle of folks coming and going was probably what was setting the four-legged, smelly fur-ball off. He tried making a few noises to distract Spinner from what he could hear but couldn't see. When that only elicited a short silence before the growl started again, Thomas sighed and looked for Joan and Talyn. They'd gone to see if any of the terminal stores were open.
"Attention passengers. The flight to Jacksonville, Florida has been cancelled due to weather conditions. Please consult your gate agent for alternate accommodations." Thomas sighed at the announcement. Their flight was a mess from the start; a mechanical failure forced their airplane to make an unscheduled stop in Kansas, of all places.
He spotted them, Joan holding a plastic bag and Talyn carrying a water bottle in each hand and under one arm. Thomas lost sight of them for a bit as an inbound flight deplaned at a gate between him and them. The noise and movement of the herd of people made Thomas tug the brim of his snapback cap down to cover his eyes. He stuck his fingers into the door of Spinner's cage and tried to focus just on the dog nosing at his digits.
"You look like you need something. Too busy in here?" Joan asked. Thomas nearly jumped, he hadn't heard them approach.
Nodding, Thomas looked up and around to the nearest restroom. "I'm also really worried I'll miss that appointment tomorrow. The more immediate concern, well, I've got to go. That last flight was too bumpy and I've been holding it since we left."
"No problem. You want Joan to go with you?" Talyn asked.
Thomas thought about it, but shook his head. "I'll be fine. It's just right over there. I'll be back in a minute."
Thomas took care of the necessity and quickly exited the crowded restroom. On the way, he passed a gentleman sitting on a bench. He initially didn't give the man much thought until he saw a familiar name on the man's luggage. Lovingly embossed on the front of the suitcase was the name: Dr. Picani, Magician, PhD.
Dr. Picani looked up at Thomas, who flushed with embarrassment at being caught staring. "Sorry, it's just, I do these videos on the internet with a character with that name."
"Ah! Then I am to understand you are that Sanders fellow?" Dr. Picani asked.
Thomas tilted his head. "Oh no, tell me you haven't watched them!"
The doctor smiled kindly. "Now, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Those animated therapy videos are as entertaining as they are educating! And I've followed that Kati Morton since watching your videos and she is as knowledgeable and engaging as I could ever hope to see from someone in their trade. Now, speaking of which, I am a doctor, but as you can see, a physical one. Matters of the mind are interesting, but not my specialty."
"What do you specialize in? Wait, let me guess. A magician and a doctor. Hands?"
"As in sleight of hand? Oh, that's a good guess but no. I'm a pediatrician," Picani explained.
"A magician pediatrician?" Thomas asked, his lips curling upwards.
"And great at rhyming in addition!" Picani replied. Thomas laughed at the wordplay. "The magic tricks are great at distracting the children, and sometimes their parents as well! I started doing magic tricks in what the young folks today call a 'side-hustle.' It helped me through medical school. Financially and mentally."
"That's amazing!" Thomas said.
Picani's eyes twinkled as he smiled. "You look as if you could use a little cheering up. Why don't you ask Joan and Talyn to come over and I'll do a little bit of magic?"
"Oh, I couldn't ask you to trouble yourself! You're traveling too."
"Kind of you to consider my feelings as well, but I insist. Come now, introduce me to your non-binary pals, as I believe you would say?"
"Alright, if you insist. I'll be right back." Thomas quickly explained the striking coincidence to Talyn and Joan and all three went to see the good doctor.
"Wow, you weren't kidding about that name!" Joan said as they all returned, Spinner in tow.
"Sorry if you've ever had trouble because of us," Talyn said.
"Oh, piffle! My grand-daughter actually called me herself after the first of your 'Dr. Picani' bits. And I'd hardly heard from her since the Christmas before that! Now she's always telling me about your videos and how much you all do behind the scenes. Consider this a little reward for all the hard work you go through, not to mention all the trouble you're in now just trying to get home!"
"So what tricks have you got up those sleeves?" Thomas asked.
Dr. Picani rolled up his sleeves. "None whatsoever. As you can see, I have nothing up my sleeves. Now!" Here Picani opened his briefcase and pulled out an ornate silver hand mirror. It looked old enough to be an antique. "I had a dickens of a time convincing our Transportation Safety Administration that this item was as safe as a stuffed rabbit. But it is much too valuable to me to leave to chance in my checked luggage. I've seen bags thrown at great speeds and distances by those so called 'handlers.' But enough slagging off the working man, let me show you how this works."
Taking note of the rose pattern around the edge, Thomas's brain perked. "That's the mirror from Disney's Beauty and the Beast!"
"Very good observation, yes. You are quite correct, although this particular mirror picked up some extra magic from that most happiest of places upon this very earth," Picani explained.
"So you bought it at a Disneyworld shop?" Joan asked, deadpan. "It just looks older than it is."
Picani's eyes twinkled. "Actually this was a gift, but let me show you what it can do." Withdrawing a nail, Picani set the mirror between his knees. With one hand, he drove the point of the nail into the mirror. The nail dropped through the mirror, skittering away across the floor. Talyn chased it down and returned it as Joan and Thomas marveled at the still-intact mirror.
"Thank you, my dear pal, for retrieving that nail. Solid silver, so it is worth its weight in, well, silver." Pocketing the nail, Picani picked a pack of playing cards and shuffled them idly. "Talyn, why don't you pick a card?"
"Sure." Selecting a card, they held it for Thomas and Joan to see. The Jack of Cloves stared back innocently.
"Alright now put it back in, just the way you found it, there's a dear." Shuffling again, Picani looked at Joan. "Now, Joan my friend, why don't you choose which half of this deck I throw back in my pocket?"
Picani cut the deck and held half in either hand. After a moment, Joan picked Picani's right hand side. "Well, oof, as I believe the kids say now. Most folk, statistically speaking, choose the other hand. But you might have noticed that I tried to lead you to choose it and thus instinctively chose the other side. No! Don't worry, we will proceed. Perhaps I miscounted and this will all turn out alright."
Pocketing the indicated half of the deck, Picani turned to Thomas, shuffling the remainder of the deck. "Now, Thomas, would you be so kind as to choose a number between one and twenty-six?"
"Thirteen," Thomas said after a moment of deliberation.
"Ah, lucky number thirteen." Picani stopped shuffling and sorted through the first twelve, reaching number thirteen and placing it face down on his palm. Picking the mirror back up, Picani slapped the card onto the back of the mirror and held it up for them to see the Jack of Cloves just under the glass.
As they cheered, an announcement called Thomas to the gate agent desk and the trio bid Picani a quick farewell.
After checking his I.D., the agent had bad news. "Due to the weather, we won't be able to fly you out tonight. The airline is offering a stay at a hotel on us, but the only hotels we have don't allow animals. Someone will have to stay the night here with the animal, and fly out on our early morning flight. That flight only has one seat left, so the other two will take the next flight to your destination. Since none of you have a checked bag, this wouldn't cause more problems at your destination. Who will be staying?"
"Thomas, he's my dog, I should..." Joan started.
Thomas shook his head. "Normally I'd agree but I have that morning appointment. I need to be home first thing in the morning. I can take Spinner to your place and kennel him until you get home. Then go and take care of my appointment. Do you mind if I stay?"
"Well, of course I mind, but I guess that's the only way to handle this logically, aside from rescheduling your appointment."
"It's too late to call them tonight, and I don't think I'll have a chance at it in the morning." Thomas sighed. "And this appointment took months to book."
Joan handed Thomas the carrier. "You both better be in good condition when we get home."
"I promise, we will be," Thomas said, turning to the gate agent.
"Since this is an inconvenience, I'm glad to tell you that the last seat on this flight is in first class, so you've been upgraded at no charge. Your friends will be flying business class as they originally paid for. We have a cot in the lounge, there are also recliners. An agent will take you to your gate in the morning. The shuttle is waiting for your friends. They'll need to meet it when it first arrives at the hotel in the morning. Sorry again, I hope your travel gets better tomorrow!"
Bidding their goodbyes to the agent and Thomas, Joan and Talyn headed quickly to the shuttle pick up area. After taking Spinner to the pet area, Thomas made his way to the lounge. Thomas tried the cot, but ended up in a recliner. Spinner laid down in his lap and both quickly fell asleep, covered in the airline blanket. Thomas' last thoughts were of his strong need to wake up in the morning to go home.