Here is my contribution to this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction prompt. (200 words or less)
The man at the front of the line screamed at the ticket counter clerk, his spittle forming tiny white bubbles on his lips. She smiled as she raised her arm for security.
“Next.”
A young mother with a baby on her hip and a toddler wrapped around her leg stepped into the vacated spot. “I need to get to Nashville tonight.”
The clerk clicked the terminal keys. “I’m sorry. The earliest I can get you there would be a flight tomorrow afternoon, leaving at four, making two stops, with the final arrival at eleven tomorrow night.”
Both children fussed as she asked, “What about another airline? I can use my credit card. I really need…” She stopped her plea as the clerk shook her head.
“I’m sorry. That’s the best I can do. Next!”
She couldn’t hold the tears back as she wormed her way through the crowd, finding a spot to sit on the floor out of the way. Holidays were the worst time to travel but this had been her last chance…
No, she wasn’t going to accept that. She took a deep breath and called her ex-husband. “Jack, I need help.”
Thank you.
A powerful tale well told 🙂
Aw, thank you , Graham. Much appreciated.
Ah, I didn’t want it to end so soon. You just pulled us right in, Froggi. I hope you have at least a short story or novella planned.
Hmmm, might have to consider that. Would be fun…
Wonderfully descriptive – I felt I was looking on!
Thanks, Keith.
Always difficult to ask for help from an EX…
But then we don’t know if the divorce was friendly.
I’ve only ever traveled with my children when I had an extra set of hands.
I don’t know how one can travel with more than one child and remain sane.
But then I never did rank sanity very highly 😉