The Way You Look Tonight

Home for the Weekend

I laced up my shoes and looked at my boarding pass. "Gate B6" I muttered to myself. I navigated through the tiny Tulsa International airport until I found my gate and found myself a seat. I let out a sigh, I have a bio exam this Wednesday and I was going to use this weekend to study until I received a phone call from my uncle telling me he was flying me home this weekend for a big surprise. I can't wait to see him, he was busy all during my fall break earlier in October and I haven't seen him since early August. He's my favorite uncle but he's also a busy man so when I do get to see him it means a lot to me. "Attention passengers of flight 702, the inbound plane is delayed 30 minutes and will arrive at 5:20 in Tulsa, we will begin boarding at 5:45" announced the Service Agent. Great now I'll be waiting an hour and a half before the plane even arrives. I love air travel but the college workload is getting real and I have a busy week ahead of me but I know this weekend is going to be a blast.

I texted my mom and uncle with an update."Hey, just letting you know that I'm in the airport at my gate. My flight has been delayed a half hour but I should be able to make my connecting flight on time."

My mom responded "Okay! Have a great flight, let me know when you're in Atlanta."

I didn't expect a response from my uncle because he's probably doing something work related. My stomach rumbled reminding me that I had skipped lunch to pack. I put my phone in my pocket and picked up my backpack and looked around for a place to eat.

Before I knew it it was 5:30 I walked back to my gate just as the passengers coming into Tulsa were coming off the plane and into the airport. "Good evening passengers of flight 702, once all the passengers get off the plane we will clean up and start the boarding process. Passengers with connecting flights to Orlando, New York City, Houston, St. Louis, and Chicago will still be able to make their flights. If you do have a connecting flight go directly to your gate to ensure you do not miss your connecting flight." The Service Agent said with a smile.

I soon got on the plane and got a window seat, my favorite. I watched the lights below me and the lightning show in the distance, it was beautiful and it reminded me of the beauty of the Earth. As we landed and were traveling to our gate I was in awe of the size of the Atlanta airport, it was massive. I looked at my second boarding pass, gate 47 is where I need to be. I got into the airport and to my gate, I knew I was at the right gate, someone was in a Chicago Cubs hat and several men wore Blackhawks apparel, my favorite team. Although I never played hockey it was my favorite sport to watch. I'm determined to learn and I've been trying to convince my uncle to give me a couple lessons. He told me he would once I could skate without having to hold onto the wall.

Once we took off I started to dose off, I woke up in a daze as we touched the ground. In my short nap I had a vivid dream, although it was more like a memory that was playing in my head as I slept. I was young, around five years old my mom was driving with tears in her eyes my two brothers, sister and me to my Uncle's house late at night. Just like it had happened years ago he took us inside, hugged my mother for a long time and told her she could get through it she left for the night promising to return the next day. He sat us down at the table and sent us off to bed each with a cup of hot chocolate. The dream brought back a somber memory but I pushed it out of my head and texted my uncle "Hey I've just landed, I'll be at baggage claim 4 soon." I went down to my baggage claim and spotted my uncle. "Uncle Joel!"

"Hey kiddo, how was your flight?"

"The first one was a little bumpy but seeing the lightning show was worth it and I slept through the second one so I guess that means it was smooth."

"Well that's good, this one is your bag right?" He said pointing to the black suitcase with a Blackhawks logo on it. I nodded. "You have great taste in suitcases," he joked.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said sarcastically, reminding him that he gave me the suitcase as a gift.

"Alright, alright, I parked in the parking garage, lets get out of Midway airport and then we'll talk."

We stepped outside and the famous Chicago wind smacked us in the face. It was colder that i expected and I was reminded it was late October. Tulsa is my new home and it was still spoiling me with 70 degree weather, growing up in the Chicago suburbs taught me that 70 degree weather in late October is a rare occasion. We got to the car and headed out. "Alright Kensie here's the plan--"

I cut him off, "you're finally telling me what we're doing?"

"No, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now would it? I told your mother I have you for the whole weekend but I agreed to let her have you tomorrow morning for breakfast as I will have to work anyway, is that alright with you?"

"Sounds good but I was hoping I could come to your morning skate."

"Well," he sighed "it starts at 11, you can swing by if you want after your breakfast but we won't be doing much just a few basic drills" he explained.

"Alright, I'll talk to mom and see what she wants to do tomorrow." It was one o'clock in the morning when we got to my uncle's house. I loved his house, Aunt Elizabeth always had tasteful decor and I always felt at peace there, it was my second home. We went inside quietly and he carried my suitcase to the guest bedroom."Thanks for picking me up and flying me home."

"Anything for my favorite goddaughter."

"I guess I lucked out on that one, my mom saved the best uncle for her last child I guess." We laughed.

"Alright goodnight kiddo, I'll talk to you tomorrow." He kissed the top of my head and went off to bed. I texted my mom letting her know I was safe at Uncle Joel's house and that I wanted to watch the morning skate. I knew she was asleep but I figured she'd wake up before me so I wanted to make sure she had a heads up.