Two Against Two
Chapter 17
Standiford Field, Louisville, Kentucky
December 23, 1990-8:45 A.M. EST
(Kate's PoV:)
"Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts. The plane is preparing to land," I hear over the intercom, as my heart thumps in celebration and excitement.
Only three-hundred miles separates my son and I, which is just an hour flight away. I can see the skyline of Downtown Louisville, and the mighty Ohio River down below from out my window. It's so beautiful.
Louisville has most-likely changed, since it's been awhile since my last visit here. Memories of past family trips to the river city are brought up, when it was just a small family of Peter, myself, and my little pumpkin, Christine. My heart aches at the thought of my oldest. I would take the time to look around to see what has changed, but I have a scared son at home, who needs his Mother.
The plane soon lands, and I find myself in the busy airport, heading for the nearest payphone. Now, I can call Peter and let him know I'm almost home. I pick up the phone, drop several coins into the slot, and dial the number to Rob's apartment in Paris. The phone rings about five times, before someone picks up.
"Hello. McCallisters' Residence. Peter speaking,"
"Hi, honey. It's Kate," I say, feeling happy.
"Katie, I'm surprised to hear from you so soon. Is everything okay?" Peter sounds happy, as well.
"I'm doing fine, Peter. I'm just tired and in need of a hot shower,"
"I'm happy you're doing okay. Buzz, Jeff, and the twins miss you, and they miss Kevin and Fred, too,"
"Tell the kids I miss them, too, and I've been thinking about them. And not to worry about Kevin or myself, because I don't have much further left to travel,"
"I will. So, where are you calling me from?"
"From the airport in Louisville, Kentucky, of all places. I feel so blessed to get a flight so close to home,"
"That's an interesting place to end up. The memories of the vacations that you, me, and Christine had there were so special," Peter chokes at the last part, mentioning Christine.
"I, too, have been thinking about Christine a lot, while waiting for a flight, or on the plane. I miss our baby girl, and I want her home, Peter, because my heart can't take the pain of being separated from her, anymore," I cry.
"I know, Katie. I want her home, too, but there's nothing we can do, since we don't know where she's at. And, even if we did, there's nothing we can do to make her come home, since she's an adult now. Your main focus should be on Kevin,"
"I know, and speaking of Kevin, I just have this bad feeling inside me that something bad is going to happen to him, before I get home," I sob to Peter, finally releasing all the tears and worries that I've been keeping buried inside of me about Kevin.
"Katie, calm down please. Everything is going to be okay, I promise you. Nothing is going to happen to Kevin, especially since you're so close to home," Peter tries to reassure me.
"I'll try my best, honey,"
"That's my Katie. The twins just came into the room, and I think they want to talk to you,"
"Oh, put them on,"
"Not before I tell you that I love you and just stay strong for me, okay? I hope to see you soon. The bed is cold and lonely, without you,"
"I love you, too, Peter, and I'll try to stay strong. Part of me feels so empty, without you being closeby. I'll call you, when I get home,"
"Well, here are the twins,"
"I want to talk to her first, Megan,"
"No, I'm talking to Mom first, Linnie," It fills me with a small amount of joy, when I hear Megan and Linnie fighting over the phone.
"Girls, stop with your nonsense right now and act like mature teenagers, or neither of you will talk to your Mother, since she's tight on time," I hear Peter scold.
"Sorry, Dad. Sorry, Mom," I hear them both say, in unison.
That's when one of the twins starts speaking to me, "Hi, Mom. It's Linnie. I just wanted to tell you that I love you and miss you so much. I'm sad the family isn't going to be spending Christmas together, and I've been really worried about Kevin,"
"I love you and miss you, too. Don't be sad, because our family will just have Christmas a little late this year, when we're all home together. And don't worry about your brother, because he's going to be okay. I'm just an hour away from getting home to him," My heart is aching for my daughter's sorrow. "So, has Paris been fun?"
"It's been okay. I've seen a few historical sites. The Louvre wasn't as interesting, without you being there to experience it for yourself. The mood has been somewhat somber, without Kevin to liven up things. I just want to go home. Well, Megan wants to talk to you. I love you, Mom. Hugs and kisses. Here's Meg,"
"I love you, too. Hugs and kisses back at you. See you soon,"
"Hi, Mom. It's Megan. I just want to tell you that I love you, and wish you and Kevin were here with us. I miss the both of you,"
"I love and miss you a whole lot, sweetheart. I wish that, too, about Kevin and I being there with the rest of you. So, how's Paris been?" I ask.
"Paris has been crappy,"
"Language, Megan," I quickly scold.
"Sorry, Mom, but it's just that Buzz is being an insensitive dork about everything, and he's forcing poor Jeff to do his dirty work with his stupid pranks, with Linnie and I being the targets. There's nothing really to do here. The Eiffel Tower was fun to see at first, but quickly loses it appeal when you've to see every day. The cuisine here is somewhat gross. It makes me miss being home so much,"
"Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll be together really soon. I'll be sure to have a talk with Buzz about his behavior, when I see him again. I'm sorry about Paris not being exciting, sweetheart. I'd better be going. My time is about up. I love you, Megan. Hugs and kisses. See you really soon. Tell your brother's the same,"
"I love you, too, Mom. Hugs and kisses back to you. I will tell them. Bye, Mom. Have a safe trip,"
"I hope you and the rest of the family have a safe trip home, too, sweetheart," I soon hear Megan hang up the phone.
This trip to Paris has been nothing but a disaster. I'm apprehensive and on the verge of having a breakdown. Kevin is home alone and most-likely scared; Peter sounds distressed, the twins are miserable, and Jeff and Buzz are causing mischief.
Fred may be the only one actually enjoying this vacation, since he's likely being pampered like a King at the kennel I left him at. The icing on the cake of this whole mess would be to finally getting home to Kevin, and Christine, from out of nowhere, pops up and hugs me.
Oh, how I wish that last part would happen, because it would assure me Kevin wasn't alone the whole time, and was well taken care of. He'd get to meet the sister he never knew. Plus, I would get the chance to face my oldest and try to correct all the mistakes I made.
If I'm being truthful with myself, pigs will more likely learn to fly, before Christine ever decides to come home. Christine hates her Father and I too much to ever come back home, even to check on Kevin. I doubt she even knows Kevin is home alone. I know she's alive, because I would've heard something, if she died. I just hope she's safe, wherever she's at.
I soon find myself at the airline ticket counter, as I try to get a flight back home to Chicago. The female ticket clerk that is waiting on me is already giving me the impression that she's much nicer than the one back in Boston.
"How may I assist you today, Ma'am?" she asks.
"I would like to see if I can get a plane ticket for the next flight back to Chicago. I'll take whatever is free," I tell her.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but all flights to all cities in the upper Midwest have been grounded, due to adverse weather conditions, and that includes Chicago, unfortunately. I have openings for flights that are leaving today to other cities, or I can get you hotel reservations and put you on the first flight out to Chicago, when planes are clear to fly," the clerk explains.
My heart is screaming "no". I'm so close to getting home, but the weather has to be so cruel. I thank the flight attendant for her help. At least she was nice and didn't act pompous, like the clerk in Boston did. He didn't even offer me hotel reservations. He just made an error, was all he told me.
I'm now sitting, and free to shout, "Damn! Damn! Damn!" I cry, pounding my fist against the armrest of the airport chair, as the tears freely slide down my face. "I was so damn close to getting home!"
"Is everything okay, Ma'am?" I look up, and notice a man, who looks and sounds exactly like my brother-in-law, Buck. Only, this man looks much healthier and better groomed.
"I'm just upset that I can't get a flight back home to my son, due to the weather," I tell him.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Ma'am. I'm having a similar dilemma myself. I was supposed to get on a plane to Scranton, but the airline got things mixed up, and we're stuck here in Louisville," He pauses, before he comes to the realization, "Where are my manners?" He laughs. "I'm Gus Polinski—band leader and clarinet player for the Kenosha Kickers," Gus reaches out to shake my hand. "So, what's your name?"
"Kate McCallister," I reply. "You must be from Wisconsin, if I'm right?"
"Yeah, Milwaukee, but I was born in Kenosha, hence the band name. That's where my band mates and I are trying to get back to for Christmas with our families, but we can't, with the planes grounded. I would rent a van and drive, but I wouldn't know how to find the right interstate that would take us to Milwaukee, since I'm not familiar with this part of the country. I tried to buy some maps, but they're sold out. I guess I'm stuck here, until the weather clears up," Gus sighs, looking defeated.
I just can't help but feel sorry for the man sitting next to me. He's not only stuck here, but he's also lost in an unfamiliar place, with no idea where to go. Maybe I can barter myself a ride back to Chicago, if I offer to help him with the directions to get out of Louisville, so we both can get back to our families.
"Could you give me a ride to Chicago, if I gave you directions on how to get to the interstate that would lead you to Milwaukee?" I ask, pleading on the inside.
"You're familiar with the area?" he asks.
"You can say that, even though it's been awhile, since I last visited Louisville. I'm sure the road layout hasn't changed much, since my last visit,"
"You have a deal, Kate. We'd be glad to take you, if it means we can get back home, without waiting for the weather to clear. Besides, Chicago is on the way to Milwaukee,"
"Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me," I'm feeling ecstatic inside.
"Maybe you can tell me something about the area, if it's not any problem?"
"I would love to," I smile.
"Let me tell the band the good news, and I'll see if I can get us a van to travel in," Gus says, before walking away to find his band. It doesn't take too long, before he returns and tells me that he was able to rent a Budget cargo van, and the band is happy to have me guide them out of Louisville.
I watch, as Gus and his band load their equipment and luggage into the back of the van. I try to load my own luggage, but Gus doesn't allow it. "You're our guest. We'll do the work, here," he says, and I just give in. "You'll be riding up front with me, Kate, since you're the one guiding us out of here." Gus tells me, as I climb into the passenger side of the van.
Soon, we're off, as we pull out of the airport parking lot, and head down the side street that will take us to the Watterson Expressway—the inner city expressway that circles the entire city for quick travel, from one end of the city to the other.
I take the time to explain the history of Louisville and point out some interesting landmarks that are visible, like Freedom Hall, the Fairgrounds Stadium, and the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs racetrack that can be seen in the distance. I quickly point out to Gus that the exit to Interstate 65 is coming up.
I explain, once we're on I65, "You just stay on this road, because it will take you directly to the interstate that will lead you to Chicago," I'm overtaken with admiration and nostalgia, when I see some of the buildings that I'm familiar with, and the new buildings that were built after my last visit to Downtown Louisville.
"Christine would love this, if she were here right now." I say to myself, trying to hold back tears. I look out the window at the steamboats and river barges sailing down Ohio River, as the van crosses the Kennedy Bridge into the State of Indiana…
Woof Woof Kennel, Winnetka, Illinois
Let's now check in on Fred, and see what kind of monkey business he's gotten himself into during his stay at the Woof Woof Kennel…
(Fred's PoV:)
I was scared at first, when Momma dropped me off at this strange place with cages, like the one I have to go into, when I've been a bad dog. Momma explained to me that I wasn't in trouble, but someone had to watch me, to make sure I was fed and taken care of, while they were away in some faraway place called "Paris", for something called a "vacation".
Momma gave me a kiss "goodbye" and handed over the rope thing that Momma walks me with to this strange female human.
The strange lady soon led me to one of the cages, like I have at home and told me I will get to play later, if I was a good doggy.
I silently cried, once the strange lady human was gone, because I missed Momma and Master Kevin. At least I got to pee on grouchy Frank's pant leg and nip his ankle, before leaving home.
Buzz had better not be mean to Master Kevin, Master Jeff, or Mistresses Linnie and Megan, while I'm gone, or I will bite his ankles, poop on his bed, and eat his evil spider. I decided I might as well sleep, since that's how I spend my timeout.
The strange female human soon woke me up and told me it was mealtime. She opened my cage and gave me some of my favorite dog food, judging by the smell of it. I chowed it down quickly, and I was soon let out of the cage for a bathroom break and playtime. During playtime, my doggy senses told me Master Kevin was in trouble, and Momma was worried.
My worry for Master Kevin grew, as a sense of darkness and danger was close by to him, and I was scared that darkness was going to hurt little master. Another strange presence was soon close to Kevin, but it wasn't bad. It felt a lot like one of Momma's pups, and they were feeling sad.
My doggy mind was having trouble understanding the strange presence I've never felt before. It was like one of Momma's pups I've never met. I'd figure that out later, when I got home, because this presence was now protecting Master Kevin from the darkness closeby. I might as well play, since Master Kevin was now safe…
END
A/N: I'm sorry if you got confused, while reading Fred's PoV. Fred has the ability to sense it, when his masters are in danger, even at faraway distances. I tried to write Fred's PoV in a way a dog would think and understand things. I also thought it would be fun to write Fred's PoV on everything.