Lost Dad: Dan Smith

Twenty Three: "Welcome to London"

This might be a longer chapter because I really want to accomplish something I've been anticipating. And also, I'm writing with a sleeping puppy that thinks they're not very heavy laying on my legs. I'm not waking it up. 

Dan POV:

Our flight finally takes off at 8:00 PM. The seats on this plane are two and two, so I'm seated next to Laura, who's currently occupying herself by sketching a pattern, mostly little symbols and band logos. It's kind of calming, listening to an instrumental playlist and watching her draw. Kyle nudges me from the seat behind me. I look up from Laura's notebook and see the flight attendant offering me a complementary snack and beverage. I order a coffee so I don't fall asleep on the flight. I also order a bag of pretzels. I hate falling asleep in public. It's about a 10 and a half hour flight and we will land 6:30 AM St. Louis time, and sometime past noon UK time. Ugh. Laura gets a coke and a bagel with cream cheese. Once we are handed out food, She stashes her coke in her bag and nibbles on her bagel. I sip my coffee and set my bag of pretzels on the tray in front of me. I look at my watch and notice we've been on the flight for over an hour. How long have I been watching her draw? I pull out my earbuds. An idea hits me over the head without a warning. A short melody that could be a chorus or something. I quickly get up to hide in the bathroom and record the little melody, because I would look like a loon humming into my phone in the middle of an overnight flight. Of course, with my luck the door is locked. The bright red occupied panel is displayed on the door. I tap my thigh anxiously. "Hurry up!" I whisper so only I can hear it. 

Kyle POV:

Will should never fall asleep next to me on a flight. For about the past 15 minutes, I've been deviously planning what to do to him. Nothing too noticeable or harmful. I'm debating between blasting music (songs he hates) in his ears or asking Laura if she has a pen so I can draw something subtle on his face, like maybe a mole near his ear and see how long it takes him to notice.  I decide to go for the second one, because it will have a more lasting effect. I tap Laura's shoulder through the crack between the seats. She turns around quickly.

 "Do you have a pen?" I ask.

"What are you going to do with it?" She asks, probably knowing my plans. 

"Maybe... mess with Will..?" I say, hoping she'll almost even be in on it. She sighs. 

"Just give it back." She hands me a blue ballpoint pen. Perfect. 

"You're the best. Thanks." I say. I put a small star near his ear on his left cheek. Lovely.  

"What are you doing, Kyle?" Dan says from behind me. My mind goes blank. 

"Generic excuse." I reply. 

"Kyle." He says, putting an accent on the Y so it sounds like Kyyyyyle. 

"I want to see how long it takes him to notice. I'll start a stop watch when he wakes up."

 I say. "I won't wake him up." Dan says. A wave of relief flows over my body. 

"If," He starts. 

"Oh god."

I say. "You have to live blog this on Twitter." An instant 

"No!" escapes my lips. "I don't want to actually embarrass him all over the world! Just on the flight and everywhere he goes until he gets home and Awuoi points it out." I say. Dan reaches to shake him awake. 

"Fine!" I whisper shout. "I'll do it." Dan pulls his hand back and sits back down in his aisle seat. He's whispering to Laura, whom is laughing like a hyena.

Laura POV (Several hours later):

Her face is pale because of the frigid air. It's cold enough, so we can see our breaths. She's wearing a red coat and a black pair of boots.