A Story

1. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   
   Mrs. Pickens said goodbye to her daughter, never knowing that it was her last goodbye.  Her daughter and she had an heated argument, did not speak for years, and now recently reconciled.  On a crisp October night in 2012, Mrs. Picken told her daughter goodbye as she left her daughter's apartment.  She hugged her daughter tightly as she said goodbye.  There was tears in her eyes as she left the apartment.  Her daugter sensed something........... Add to the story.

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   1. 81

      Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Mrs. Marjorie Pickens pulled the collar of her black wool coat tightly under her throat. A chilly wind blew litter and wrappers under her feet. She kicked at them absentmindedly with her black knee-high boots as she headed down the cracked sidewalk away from her daughter's warm apartment. The bus stop was two blocks away and the bus wouldn't be there until 3:13 p.m. It was only 2:00 p.m. She carried a brown paper bag which her daughter, Suzette, had handed her in the apartment. Her daughter had told her not to open it until she got home. It was not too heavy and smelled like freshly baked bread. She wanted to to open it and tear off a piece. "Maybe I should at least wait until I get to the bus stop." She knew she should wait until she got home, as her daughter had requested… It had always been an issue between them; Marjorie never listening to her daughter or respecting her wishes. "Just for once, just this one time, do what she would like you to do, and wait," Marjorie pleaded with herself.
            From the window of her ground floor apartment, Suzette Pickens watched her mother make her dreary way down the dusty street. She just knew her mother would open that bag and tear off a piece of her perfectly formed whole wheat loaf. Would she have the discipline to wait… after all they had discussed?
      "Just one time! " She thought to herself. " Do this one thing for me… one, two, three, four, five, six..."
        But, there it was: The lifting arm and and the sliding hand. Suzette watched sadly as her mother's black figure walked down the street...
      eating the freshly baked bread.

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2. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   Susette was a young woman of 26. She did sense something about her mother and it was disturbingly familiar. She could not and would not handle it any longer. She would leave. She had come to understand that her mother was addicted to bad relationships and it was more than she could bear. "Let her go, Suzette," she told herself. "Just let her go. Maybe she'll hit rock bottom."
       "But, I will not wait for that to happen. I'll find my own life," she confirmed. "Its about time." She proceeded to put all her stuff in storage and within a week she moved out. She boarded a flight at LAX with a couple of suitcases and left Silver Lake where she and her mother had lived all their lives. She was tired of the grubby streets, the shabby Hollywood crowd and the loony tunes that her mother so easily attracted. Oh my gosh, so many crazy characters had come in and out of her life. She would find a place to live where people were normal. She had plenty of money since her father, a minor Hollywood screen actor, had died. He had left her a good amount in his will. Her mother's account contained more than enough for her and her crazy lifestyle for awhile. But, how long would it be before she would give it away to some bum? The plane took off and the cars and houses became more and more like the toys of children. They couldn't be small enough for her. And no, she did not say goodbye.

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3. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   Meanwhile, Marjorie had met the man of her dreams. It happened at the bus stop. She had taken off her black coat and sat contentedly eating the bread her daughter had baked earlier that day. A man riding by on his bike caught a whiff of the freshly baked bread.  As he passed, he saw the person of Marjorie. She had taken off her tortoise shell glasses and let down her beach blond hair and there she sat in a yellow sundress. He circled the bike around and jumped off. He gracefully slid next to Marjorie on the bus bench, introduced himself as Ellis and asked if he could have a piece of that delicious smelling bread. She smiled at his tan face and pulled off a piece of bread. They sat munching as the traffic whizzed by and the afternoon shadows grew longer. It was love at first sight for both of them before any conversation at all.

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4. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   And the plane Suzette was on got hijacked. The Russian hijackers were intent on taking this particular airliner to Siberia. Suzette was horrified. Luckily she brought along her winter clothes as she had been headed to New York. But Siberia? She started sobbing uncontrollably.

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   1. 81

      Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      A gruff black-masked man grabbed her arm and said something in Russian which meant "Shut up!"  He continued in a language she could not understand…  "Be glad we are not blowing this rig up! Luckily for you, we are not stupid Jihadists!" He continued in surly anger. "Don't worry, you will keep your precious life!" And then he proceeded carrying out his kidnapping and hostage taking. There were five of them. How did they make it on the plane with so many regulations in place before boarding? She started thinking about what SHE had to go through just to board! It was enough to make one cry.
      Another long tear slipped from her sad eye.

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5. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   The plane landed to refuel in New York. Suzette grabbed one of her suitcases and decided she would try to escape. She did not care what happened to her. She had to get off the plane. At this point she had a very bad case of cluster phobia. She started screaming in panic, anger and rage. This earned her a push out of the plane door. She fell and fortunately the suitcase broke the fall. Unfortunately, she did not hang onto her purse which contained her wallet, ID, ATM card, credit cards and cell phone. She looked at the plane as it fired up and took off for the rest of its flight to Siberia. The jetliner became smaller and smaller as she watched it disappear into the vast night sky. She got up, dusted herself off and went to report the incident to the authorities. It was dark and cold. She was miserable. A flood of tears...
   Then she discovered she had grabbed someone else's suitcase. It was not her's! She couldn't believe it! By now she had used up all her tears...
   except for one last tear.

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6. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   She wandered into the JFK International Airport, (on Jamaica Bay in the southeastern section of Queens County, New York City, 15 miles by highway from Manhattan,) and tried to tell someone that the jet she had been on had been hijacked and was presently on its way to Siberia. They checked the computer. They told her she was scheduled to land "here at this airport around this time...and you have! We see no problem …" They easily dismissed her and carried on with their busy evening dealing with customers. How could this plane have landed, refueled and then taken off again with such ease? * See below.
         By now she decided she better report it to the police. She trudged all the way to a police station near the airport. "ID please. Prove you were on this jetliner. Which one?" "Boeing 747-8, Flight 294, United Airlines," she reported.
        "We will report it to JFK International immediately." Behind their formal politeness they were laughing and she perceived they did not believe her, either. She told them she needed to call her mother in California because she had lost everything on that plane. "Sure you did, miss..." She waited while they patiently dialed the number. No answer. " I'll wait over here," she said glumly. "Can I try later?"  "Of course!" the deputy replied.
        If she knew her mother, she would be out until 2:00 A.M. It was only ten o'clock P.M. New York time, so it would be a long long night of waiting for her mother to answer either the house phone or by some remote chance, her cell phone. It was usually in her purse turned off when on a date and why would she answer a call from New York on her cell phone, anyway? Out of curiosity, maybe? Exasperated, she borrowed a coat from one of the clerks and slumped on a bench and shed another tear or two.

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   1. 81

      Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      * "Different aircraft have different refuel rates. Larger aircraft can accept two refueling hoses to increase the rate...smaller aircraft have only one. To determine the refueling time, divide the gallons to be uploaded by the flow rate in gallons per minute. For a large aircraft fueling for a 14-hour flight, it can take an hour or more to refuel.
      
      Airlines are always looking for ways to decrease "turn time" i.e., the time between arriving at the gate and leaving again. An aircraft on the gate is not earning money, so getting it airborne quickly means more revenue. Aircraft that fly more hours in a day are said to have a higher utilization rate - very important. Southwest boasts that they can turn an aircraft in 20 minutes...that's fast!
      
      Here are the steps that need to be accomplished during an aircraft turn:
      
      Insert chocks/position jetway
      Deplane passengers
      Remove luggage and cargo
      Crew post-flight inspection
      Complete required maintenance
      Clean aircraft
      Cater aircraft (replace carts/drinks/food etc.)
      Refuel
      Load luggage and cargo
      Crew pre-flight inspection
      Pre-board customers
      Board customers
      Pre-departure checks
      Position pushback tractor
      Close-up
      Remove chocks
      Remove jetway
      De-ice aircraft (when necessary)
      Push back
      
      Note that many items are completed simultaneously, but all must be done before the aircraft can depart. The larger the aircraft, the longer it takes to complete all the steps. For example, a 747 preparing for a Trans-Pacific flight will begin to refuel as soon as it arrives at the gate. Obviously, it continues to refuel while cargo is loading, aircraft is being cleaned, etc."
      http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in … 916AAMkss8

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7. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   Meanwhile back in California, Silverlake to be exact, well, Atwater, otherwise known as Frog Town… Marjorie was having the time of her life with her new friend. Ellis had bought her a $1,036.00 Solomon solomo bicycle 8 c road bike modern double 12 and they went riding almost every day. During the following month her legs toned up and her health improved. Ellis influenced her to eat more vegetables, cut down on dairy products, and eliminate alcohol or substances of any type. She lost weight, gained muscle and slept better than she ever had. He told her to stop bleaching her hair and let it be natural.  She would no longer be a blond, but she would not miss the tedious regimen of bleaching and dying her hair. Ellis explained that it subjected her brain and kidneys to all those chemicals and bleach. "Look what it did to Marilyn Monroe, Jane Mansfield, Madonna, Miley Cyrus and all my old girlfriends," he had declared. "They all became as nutty as fruitcakes!"

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   1. 81

      Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      And where was Marjorie the night Suzette called?
      Sleeping. Soundly and peacefully sleeping with her cellphone turned off and her landline ringer off as well. On that night, she was not even aware that her daughter had left town, as it had only been a week since she visited her at the apartment, the day she met Ellis.
      - nor did she hear from Suzette for twelve more months!

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8. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   It had taken Marjorie two weeks to realize her daughter had moved out of the apartment, leaving nothing, not even a forwarding address! She began calling Suzette's cell phone over and over, frantically dialing day after day. Once, a gruff sounding foreign voice answered and yelled at her from the other end. After that, nothing. This incident was alarming to say the least.
        She contacted the authorities and reported her daughter missing.  Eventually, the authorities informed her of the kidnapped plane and the passenger list that included her daughter's name. The Boeing 747-8 had safely landed on the shore of the Black Sea. They explained to Marjorie that the kidnappers had been arrested, all the passengers accounted for and finally brought back home.
         All except Suzette Pickens from California. This news left her Mother completely devastated. All she could do was hope for the best. Ellis felt so sorry for her that he proposed. By the day of the wedding, Marjorie had still not heard one word concerning the whereabouts of her daughter. Oh, where was Suzette?

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9. 81

   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   Suzette got up eventually. She had been trying to get a hold of her mother at the police station, but got tired of ringing the cell-phone in her mother's purse in vain. So, she wandered out into the night with someone else's suitcase. She strolled into a restaurant, sat down at the bar and watched the people of Queens. She had nothing and suddenly felt a feeling of pure freedom. She did not have an identity, she did not have a cell phone. She did not have money. She had absolutely nothing. She embraced the moment by hugging herself. She told herself how much she loved herself. And that was a feeling she had never felt before. She was strangely filled with joy. She could not explain it. Tears of joy came to her eyes and she just sat there in the noisy restaurant at the bar. It was two A.M. Didn't these people ever go to bed?

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10. 81

    Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

    She struck up a conversation with a couple of men who each offered to buy her a drink. She decided to have fun with this. She had always enjoyed acting and with no identity she could could take on any identity she liked. So, with the first gentleman, she was Arlene. She laughed gayly and talked about her life in Georgia. She gave herself a bit of a southern accent and pretended she was from a large estate owned by her wealthy father, Peter Asken. "Have you heard of him? Everybody in Georgia knows Peter Asken!"  She explained how he had inherited a peanut plantation which he subdivided and sold. She herself had two horses and he owned several champion race horses. "Oh, how I love horses!" She declared in her southern accent. At his point the first man got up hastily saying he had a plane to catch.
         The second man, she decided, would meet Monique. She pulled her hair back and put it in a tight bun. She refreshed her lipstick and pretended to be an airline stewardess. She chatted about her travels and explained how she almost ended up in Siberia on one flight.  Eventually, she revealed her true dilemma; that she needed a place to sleep for the night for she had left her purse which contained her wallet and credit cards on the plane of her last flight! "I don't know what to do for the night!" she blurted out. 
         At this point she was no longer acting and he sensed the urgency in her voice. He politely offered to drive her to his house just outside the city where she could stay the night in his daughter's room. She was away at college. He explained he had a live-in maid who would be happy to serve her breakfast in the morning. He was older, mid 60's. He had lost his wife recently. She was struck by his sincerity and warmth. She asked him what he did for a living and told her he was a university professor. He taught English and English Literature. She trusted him enough to take him up on his offer. His name was Jake Ellsworth. "I really appreciate this, Mr. Ellsworth." she said. "I would not be so forward as to accept your generous offer in any other circumstance! But, as I do not know what else to do... Thank You!"
    "Happy to help," he replied. "You will be comfortable my daugher's room."
          She told herself that sometimes fate offers solutions and you just have to trust your gut. As she hoisted the large suitcase she had been lugging around, (still unopened,) into the car, she climbed in. Something about him reminded her of her father, and a tear slipped onto her cheek...

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11. 81

    Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

    She woke up the next morning yawning and stretching luxuriously. She felt as if she had never had such a wonderful sleep! She sat up briskly surprised to see a little alarm-clock's face of 12 noon. Where was she? Who's room was this? Whom had she met last night? She had had more than a couple sips of each drink offered her, so the night before was a little hazy. She couldn't believe she had trusted a complete stranger! Well, so far so good. Nevertheless, she had to get out of there! That familiar feeling of cluster phobia came over her. But, she forced herself to calm down… "After all, you have no identity or identification, or money or transportation!" She remembered she had given him a false name, what was it? Oh yeah, Monique.  And what was his name… ummm... Mr. Ellis?
         She looked around the well furnished and beautiful room. It had been decorated in pink, green and blue tones. Who's room was it? She decided to find out. She ruffled through some school papers sitting on the desk. The name on the papers was Janet. Janet Ellsworth. The picture on the wall showed a pleasant girl about 21, in a graduation cap and gown. She had obtained an AA as evidenced by the certificate next to the picture. It appeared she was a child development major. She felt sorry for her in a way.
          Her own aspirations were to be an actress. She had always admired her father and wanted to be just like him. Suddenly, it dawned on her: If she signed up for some classes in theater at Janet's Jr. College, she could brush up on her acting skills and eventually go on auditions in New York. Perhaps Mr. Ellsworth and his daughter would let her stay there for a year. Of course, she would find a job and pay rent for the room each month. What about transportation? She would tell him the truth about her predicament and her real name. If he believed her, he would surely  want to help her… maybe there was an extra bicycle around… or a car!!

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    1. 81

       Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Dr. Ellsworth believed her tale and was indeed agreeable to her plans and requests. She couldn't believe her ears when he explained that the car his wife drove was still parked in the garage since the last time she used it, two months ago. She promised to pay $400.00 a month to rent out the room, "If you're sure it would be alright with your daughter." He explained it would be fine, since his daughter was not due to return from her university in Scotland until she graduated in two years.
            Now, she had to find a job. First she would find a job and then she would sign up for acting classes in the spring. She couldn't believe her good luck. It seemed too good to be true. A tear of thankfulness slipped onto her cheek.
           "Thank You, Dr. Ellsworth! I appreciate this more than I can say!" Suzette explained. Jake looked up from the book he was reading as he smoked his pipe." You are welcome and I can use the extra income!" he replied with a smile.

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       1. 81

          Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          During the next month, she applied for a new social security card and after it came in the mail, she applied for a new driver's license. After she received her driver's license she located the New York branch of her bank and finally had access to her inheritance account. Suzette would never forget the freedom of having no identity, but she felt thankful to have her's back. Now, for a job.
               She decided she could waitress at the restaurant where she met Dr. Ellsworth. It was not that far away and the drive was easy enough. She was used to waiting tables, as that had been how she survived in California.
               She had been very careful with her inheritance money as she did not wish to waste it. She knew she should invest it, but knew so little about financial matters. In the back of her mind, if, by some remote chance, she should ever meet a knight in shining armor…"But, his armor better be very shiny! Note to self: No drinking after work, Suzette! You were just lucky when you met Dr. Ellsworth!" She continued lecturing herself: "You might not be so lucky the next time…" And then out loud with great resolve she stated: "Don't worry, there won't be a next time!"
              She did not want to mess up a good thing. She would not. She could not. She shed a single tear thinking about her good fortune to have found a nice room in a big comfortable house in a "normal" neighborhood surrounded by normal people. She was far away from the life she had led in Hollywood. She felt safe and content and decided she would not even try to stay in touch with her crazy mother who had caused her so much grief after her father had died.

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12. 81

    Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

    This tale must end. I cannot afford to waste any more of my precious time on it. Here is how it ends. Suzette decided to take accounting classes instead of acting classes. She got a certificate in accounting from a six-month program at the local Jr. College. She quit waitressing to mentor with an accountant in Manhattan. She was given a full-time accounting position and her new paycheck enabled her to move out of the home of Jake Ellsworth. He was sad to see her go, but felt happy for her success at the same time. She fell in love with her boss and they got engaged exactly a year after she had arrived in New York.     
       So, yes, she did very well for herself in only a year's time. She finally got in touch with her mother to invite her to her wedding. She payed for Marjorie and Ellis to fly to New York for the wedding. She thought Ellis was a great guy and was quite relieved that her mother had finally settled down. It was a happy reunion of mother and daughter and a happy wedding. Suzette and Marjorie continued to keep in touch for the rest of their lives and they all lived happily ever after. In fact, Suzette and her husband, Bob Wright, bought an old historic Mansion in Atlanta, Georgia and subdivided 50 acres of plantation land. Eventually her mother came to live on the estate with Suzette when they were both quite old, after their husbands had died. And they got along quite well until...
    The End.

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    1. 83

       gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Read the story, EXCELLENT!
       

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13. 81

    Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

    Why, Thank you!

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    1. 81

       Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Dear GM
             This was a fascinating prompt and the picture made all the difference. Thanks for the fun! I don't know why others did not want to join in. It could have gone in so many different directions. For instance, we still don't know what was in the suitcase!
       Well, I know…!
                                                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                                                  Kathryn

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