Bucket List

Chapter 4

I'd been on a plane only twice before. A trip to Phoenix, Arizona and Disney World gave me the impression that I was a seasoned flyer. However, as I sat in my seat listening to the flight attendant explained the safety precautions, I clenched my seatbelt to check for it's security. With the absence of my parents, I wondered that if we crashed, what my last words would be.

The man next to me typed on his computer excessively, despite the woman announcing that it was time to turn off all devices. His tie was messily tied and his hair flopped to the side of his face. I stole glances at him when he was practically focused. 

One time as I looked, he lifted his head from the screen and glared at me. There were bags under his eyes.

"What?" he asked quickly.

I looked away immediately, pretending not to hear his rude remark. I decided it was better to ignore his presence all together, and to request headphones and a movie. It was more expensive, but with 28,000 dollars after taxes in my bank account, I decided to treat myself.

The movie was shit and I instantly grew distracted, watching all the passengers from afar, save the man next to me, which by the way was warned twice before putting away his laptop.

A couple sitting a few rows in front of me fought. They spoke in hushed urgent voices, sprinkled with ignorant remarks and curse words. The woman had a wedding ring on her finger, one that sparkled in the sun that blinded the interior of the jet.

Across from me was a child, alone. A flight attendant would check up on him periodically with snacks or a book to read. He had a teddy bear in the seat next to him, with the seatbelt secured over his torso.

I felt the paper that I jammed in my pocket before boarding the plane. I pulled it out of my jeans and unfolded it, my fingers smoothing out the frail and wrinkled paper.

"What's that?" A voice came beside me. I looked up and say the boy had taken the bear's place and was now sitting directly across from me, holding the stuff animal tightly in his arm.

I looked down at the paper, debating whether or not I should tell the truth.

"It's a bucket list." I answered.

"What's that?"

"It's a list of things you want to do before you go." I explain, trying my best to lighten the normally dark subject.

"Is that why your going to Africa?" He asks.

"Yep," I nod. "I'm going on a safari and then a volunteering group."

"That's cool."

"Yeah," I nod. "What's his name?"

The boy looks down at the teddy bear and smiles.

"Teddy." He answers with a grin.

"That's a good name."

"Yeah," He nods. "It is."

******

"Are you Rahim?" I asked the man. He leaned on a jeep, the white cotton of his shirt was brilliant against his dark skin

"Ellie?" He asks. I nod.

"Let's go." He says shortly.

He walks to the driver side of the car and I slipped in the passenger side. He started the car and pulled out of the side of the road. The airport was fairly small, so traffic wasn't nearly as bad as it was back in the states.

"How long are you staying?" Rahim asks.

"Three days." I answer. He nods wordlessly. I watched him as he focused on the road in front of him.