Stutter

Chapter Five

The Airport Hustle

**Chris Perspective**

The hustle and bustle of the airport was a familiar yet overwhelming symphony of sounds and sights. Chris navigated through the airport with Amir, their steps hurried but practiced. They knew the drill—security checks, boarding passes, and the ever-dreaded wait times. The walkways buzzed with travelers, all with their destinations and stories.

They had cleared security without any hitches, a small miracle in itself given Amir’s usual habit of forgetting to remove something metallic. As they collected their belongings from the conveyor belt, Chris couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with nervous energy.

“Hey, you good?” Amir asked, giving Chris a nudge as they slipped back on their shoes near the benches.

“Just thinking about how Mom will react,” Chris replied with a grin. “She has no idea we’re coming.”

Amir smiled, the mischievous gleam in his eyes reminiscent of shared childhood secrets. “She’s going to lose it—in a good way, of course.”

As they began to make their way toward the gate, Chris noticed Amir glancing at his phone too often. He seemed preoccupied, as if waiting for a message that had yet to come. The thought gnawed at Chris but he decided to push it away. There would be time to delve into that when they reached New Orleans. Right now, the focus was on family.

They passed a small café, and the scent of freshly baked pastries and coffee made Chris’s stomach rumble. “We have time; let’s grab something to eat,” he suggested, veering toward the counter.

The café was cozy despite the constant flow of early morning travelers. As they waited in line, Chris scanned the departure board, eyes landing on their own flight to New Orleans—still on time.

After collecting their order—a couple of bagels and steaming cups of coffee—they found an empty table near the window. Sunlight streamed through, illuminating parts of the bustling tarmac.

“So,” Chris began, taking a sip of his coffee. “What’s Mom gonna say when she sees us waltzing up her driveway?”

Amir chuckled, finally looking a little more relaxed. “She’ll probably wonder what took us so long. That, or she’ll start planning who’s cooking what for dinner companies' over.”

The thought warmed Chris. Their mom was at the heart of everything—a constant amid their ever-changing lives. He felt a touch of guilt for not visiting sooner but knew their surprise would be worth it.

They chatted about everything and nothing, slipping into that easy bond only siblings share. For a moment, it felt like they were young again, sitting at their kitchen table back home, dreaming about the future.

The final boarding call for their flight jolted them back into action. They quickly finished their breakfast and made their way to the gate. As they settled into their seats on the plane, Chris felt a sense of rightness. Despite any worries about what awaited in New Orleans outside of their visit with Mom, being with Amir felt grounding, a place where past and present met with an unspoken understanding and loyalty.

Leaning back as the plane began to taxi down the runway, Chris glanced over at Amir. “This is gonna be fun, right?”

“Absolutely,” Amir replied, a grin spreading across his face as the plane lifted off, carrying them toward home and whatever awaited them with open possibilities.

The steady hum of the airplane engines filled the cabin as Chris adjusted himself in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable for the two-hour flight ahead. The city was well behind them now, and their course was set for New Orleans. He glanced out the window at the endless expanse of clouds below them, feeling a wave of excitement and a touch of apprehension about their unscheduled visit to their mom.