It has been 24 hours since she got the news that she would soon be a millionaire and while that news is good, the idea of spending any time in Kansas isn't. She gets out of her first class seat and tries to look back into coach, to many people have stood up and her father is nowhere in sight. She disembarks through the Jet way and makes her way into the waiting area by the ticket counter. After a few minutes her father comes out and she smiles and waves to him, he makes his way over to her and they head toward baggage claim.
They wait for a few minutes and their bags come along the moving counter toward them, Bass picks up both bags and they head to the door. As the door opens a burst of heat smacks them in the face, it is hot outside and there is a strong wind blowing. Fortunately there is a sign held by a man in a black suit in front of a stretch SUV, he is holding a sign that says 'Armstrong'. Bass is the first to notice and grins as he nudges Tina and points.
"Looks like it is first class all the way, nothing but the best for my girl." He says as they walk toward the vehicle.
The man opens the back door and they get inside, they find the air conditioning has been running and inside the vehicle the temperature is nice and cool. Inside there is a note taped to a bottle of Champaign, it reads:
Tonight you have free, tomorrow morning we have several local TV and radio shows, and in the evening is your match. Enjoy the limo, and the Champaign for your entire trip.
Thanks,
Anssec Aircraft
Tina finishes reading it and hands it to her father, he reads it and crumples it up. He takes the chilled bottle of Champaign and untwists the top part and pops the cork. He then takes two flutes and fills each with the bubble liquid inside, he sets the bottle on a small table and hands a glass to Tina. They each hold the flute by the larger part at top, Bass takes a second to enjoy the smell of the liquid.
"To my baby girl, everyday she makes me more 'n more proud to be her daddy," Says Bass holding the glass up.
"Oh dad, you're wors'n a girl most times," She replies and then taps her glass against his. With one gulp the glass is left empty.
"Honey, ya' gonna' kill yourself drinkin' like that," Says Bass.
"Daddy I gotta' enjoy youth while I'm still young," Comes her retort as she opens a bottle of bourbon from the bar next to the back seat.
Bourbon is her father's favorite drink, and nothing can spoil it more than adding anything to it save ice. She grabs two small tumblers next to the bar and places them on the small table adjacent to where Bass is sitting. Placing the bottle next to the glasses she turns and opens the small refrigerator under where the alcohol is kept. She pulls out a small bucket full of ice and places three cubes in each. As she is putting the ice back she notices shot glasses next to the liquor glass and grabs two of them and places them next to the bottle. She pours each shot glass and then fills up the glasses with ice and pours the bourbon a little over half way.
"A shot ta' warm ya' up, and a drink to cool ya' down," She says smiling.
"You really are my kid," He grabs the shot glass first. "The first one's always fer Texas."
"Fer Texas," She echoes.
He slams the shot back and slams the glass on the table. She drinks the shot and immediately follows suit slamming the shot glass on the table. They each take a second and let the warm feeling from the alcohol make its way down their esophagus. Tina makes a quick face over the taste of the drink and then goes back to normal.
Bass notices this and laughs a bit, "Good stuff huh? Jim always did know how ta' make a good Bourbon."
With that they relax back into their seats, Tina locates the remote and turns on the TV. She flips through a couple of channels until she finds a daytime show. Finally she arrives at a show which several people on stage and the question of male paternity is being tested. She tosses the remote onto the empty seat next to her and sips her bourbon. Bass takes a sip and sets the glass on the end table next to him, he lays down on the seat and closes his eyes.