Memory Bottle

Chapter 2

My body was numb with shock but at the same time adrenaline was rushing through my viens like water spilling out of a dam, causing my whole body to shake so violently that the flower bouquet craddled in my arms was almost starting to fall apart as we waited anxiously at the arrival gate for my brother to get off the plane that had just landed at Mrtyl Beach Airport. 

"Is that him?" I asked my mom for about the tenth time as the passengers continued to walk out of the designated gate. 

Mom laughed and put a hand on my shoulder.  "He'll show up soon, Ave. Stop shaking or you'll cause the flowers to fall apart."

I sighed and clutched the flowers tightly. The sweet smell of the summer sun on them calmed me down slightly. 

Finally, after about twenty passengers, I saw a familiar head of black hair under a camouflage hat and a camouflage uniform appear out of the gate. 

The adrenaline pushed the "go" button in my feet. 

"TRENT!" I screamed.  With one kick of a foot, I felt myself flying toward a war-battered but very handsome soldier who saw me and put his lugage down to recieve me. 

"AVERY!" my brother cried. 

With my arms opened wide, I jumped up on my brother and embraced him tightly, nearly crushing the flowers against his back.  I was sobbing and laughing with joy, a joy that everyone else around us in the airport noticed and stopped their movement to applaude and cheer.  A joy I wanted the whole world to see. 

Trent held me for a few moments, kissing my bare shoulder, and then set me down. 

"Oh my God, Avery!" he breathed, taking my hands and spreading my arms out to study me. His eyes were wet with tears.  "You've gotten so big and so beautiful! What happened to the squirt I stupidly left behind? Please tell me she hasn't completely changed!" he laughed.

I threw back my head and laughed.  "Nope! I'm still gonna be a pest no matter where you are Trent." I handed him the flowers. 

Trent laughed again and ruffled my long black hair.  "Dear God.  I don't remember the last time I've seen flowers.  Thank you." he breathed, taking them gingerly.  He then picked his bag back up and, putting one arm around my shoulders, led me over to Mom and Dad who had not moved from their spot.  Mom was slightly teary-eyed. 

"Hey Mom," Trent laughed gently, putting his lugage back down to embrace the trembling woman and kiss her boney cheek.  "I'm home, and I'm not going back.  I promise."

Mom put a hand on his cheek and looked at him, beaming.  "Sweetheart, you make me so proud.  I'm glad God has watched over you." 

Trent smiled and turned to Dad.  "Hey Pop." he grinned at him as he gave the aging man a manly hug. 

"Glad you're home son." Dad said in a ruff military voice, but also beaming.  "It was rather quiet without you."  

"Too quiet." I mumbled. 

Trent laughed.  "I can fix that." he winked at me. 

"Let me get the lugage." Dad said, lifting up Trent's bag before Trent could argue.  "You've gotta be tired.  Let's go out and celebrate at Beachside Shack." 

" Awesome! Thanks Pop."  Trent grinned, patting him on the back.  He began to follow behind my parents when he suddenly stopped and, looking back at me, grinned again and knelt down.  "Hop on." he gestured me toward his back. 

Smiling with delight, I walked over to him like an eager child and, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, situated myself into a piggy-back position on his back.