Finally Free

Ten

"Ah Einstein Bagels," I say to myself getting into the surprisingly long line.

"Hi what can I get you?" The employee asks once I get to the front.

"Hi, can I please get a cinnamon sugar bagel toasted with plain cream cheese and a plain bagel toasted with plain cream cheese?" I ask the employee types everything in, asking if that will be it, asks for a name, tells me the price and I hand them my card, they swipe it, and hands it back along with my receipt.

"It will be ready at the end of the counter in a few minutes," the employee says I nod and head over to the other end of the counter. While I wait I get out my iPad and go to my sugar app to check on that.

"Kasey?" Someone says I look up and it's the employee with my food. I head to the counter "Cinnamon sugar with plain and a plain with plain?" The employee asks I nod they hand over the bag and turns around so I grab it and walk away to find a Starbucks. After a short walk, thankfully in the direction of my gate, I find one that surprisingly has no line.

"Hi" I say walking up the counter

"Hey. What can I get started for you?" The employee asks in a very monotone voice

"Can I get a venti white chocolate caramel mocha with whipped cream and extra caramel drizzle on top, please?" I ask and the guy behind the counter writes it down

"Anything else?" He asks sounding bored while typing the order into the computer I shake my head no "Then that'll be 5.75" I hand him my gold card for him to swipe and thankfully there is enough on it to cover my drink. "That'll be done in a minute," he says I nod and head to the end of the counter to wait. Hey, I got a text.

From: Beth - You don't owe me anything more than gas. Yeah, I'll be there. What happened to Harry?

To: Beth - Thank you! And yes I do so shut up. His flight is delayed already. He'll be over just late.

After pressing send I look up in time to see him putting my finished drink down on the counter sliding it. I catch it right as it's about to fall off.

"Thank you," I say with a smile while grabbing a cup sleeve and a stopper thingy. The employee doesn't say anything so I just take a sip of my drink and walk away towards my gate. Once getting there I find a seat set my suitcase down next to me and begin eating. I only get one bite in before they call my boarding section. I sigh and put my bagel back in the bag, grab my duffel and coffee and walk to the desk

"Your carry-on bag will be checked at the bottom of the jetway. Since it is a small plane there are no overhead compartments, only the space underneath the seat in front of you for your personal item. Please attach this tag to the strap or handle of your carry-on bag and leave it at the bottom of the jetway ramp. And don't forget to get whatever you may need out of it since it will be going under the plane where you will have no access to it." The desk agent says before beginning to scan the next set of tickets. After waiting for a few people I get to the desk, scan my iPad, and am handed the luggage tag for my duffel. While walking I loop the tag around the strap of my bag. By the time I get to the bottom of the jetway, I am all set and can just hand the man standing there my bag.

Once on the plane, I quickly find my seat, window seat in the middle back of the kinda tiny plane, and take a seat putting my backpack underneath the seat in front of me after taking out my pair of earbuds and some gum. I work on eating my bagels and drinking my coffee while putting my earbuds into my iPad, turning my Skillet playlist on shuffle, texting both Harry and Beth that I am on the plane taking off soon and I will text when I land, then turning my iPad onto airplane mode. Once that is all finished we start moving away from the gate so I put the gum in my mouth to reduce the pressure in my ears. I regret my choice of mint gum every time I take a sip of my coffee but oh well.