Kansas Summer

The Clouds Fly By

“I—I can't believe it's you! It's been how many years? It's just crazy that we found each other! The world is so huge! Why are you in Albany?” I blurt out. Brandon seems overwhelmed.

“Well why are you? I mean, you left me in Kentucky.”

“I've been farther than Kentucky. It's one heck of a story, but it's pretty long, and I don't know that you'll have time for it.”

“I've got plenty of time. In fact, I'm out to Newport, New Hampshire in the Arrow for dinner. Would you like to join me? I can also tell you where I've been.”

“What's in Newport? I've not even heard of the place.”

Brandon got a twinkle in his eye. “There's a wonderful Mexican restaurant at the airport that I love to go to. It's about an hour flight out, and just as long back, so we can be back before sundown. You game for it?”

I grin. “I suppose so. I don't have anything else to do.”

“Would you like any coffee?” he asks me, pouring me a cup.

“Well, why not,” I acquiesce, taking the cup from my old friend. I take a sip and gag. “What's in this?”

“Coffee. It's straight black coffee. You could say it's a pilot staple, not to mention the only way to drink coffee.”

“It's so bitter,” I complain. “It could probably power your plane.”

“Funny, but let's get to business. Out to the plane!”

“It certainly is roomy,” I remark.

“Yeah,” Brandon replies, “Especially to someone who has only flown little Cherokees. This is the Cadillac of Piper piston singles.”

“Even though it's painted blue and orange?” I tease.

“I'll admit that the scheme is a little retro.”

“Little?” Brandon glares at me.

“Whatever. Get in and put on a headset.” I do as I am told. “I'm counting on you knowing about all of the procedures. Want to help me with the checklist? If you read off everything, I'll check.”

“Affirmative.”

“Albany Ground, Arrow N5051S ready at Million Air FBO requesting clearance to taxi to the active.”

“Arrow N5051S, taxi request granted. Taxi to runway one via taxiways Lima, Delta, Alpha. Hold at Alpha One, and contact tower on .

“Pull back on the propeller just a bit. We can level out and cruise now.” Brandon sets the throttle at the appropriate power, and relaxes in his seat. “So tell me how you came to be up here in New York? I don't even know where you went after you left Kentucky.”

“It's a sad story. You ready for this?”

“Sure.” He seems so nonchalant about it; I guess that he isn't expecting it to be that bad, but he's going to be in for a surprise.

“Well, my story all started really when my mom died, but I think you knew about that. Before she passed away, my mom made my dad promise that he would remarry for my and Morgan's sake. My dad married my step-mom because he loved her, but she didn't love him back. All she wanted was my late mother's insurance money. They fought for it in court, but in the end, my step-mom ended up with custody of Morgan and moved away. I didn't see her for at least ten years. My dad became depressed and mad at himself for losing Morgan and for being stupid about who he married. That's where we left.”

“Where did you go?”

“My dad never could face his family or my mom's family after his incident, so we moved to Kansas, Goodland, Kansas to be specific, and severed any ties with our old families. That's where I remember most of my childhood. My dad became the owner of an animal feed store in town and we got along relatively well. I would not trade my dad for anyone else; he was a kind and caring person with a wonderful sense of humor, but his depression really hurt the way he acted around me. I still admired him though.”