My Airport Mistake

Run I

A snowstorm heavily came down in the afternoon and has yet to ease off. Many flights are delayed. The boarding lobby, full of stranded people waiting for their delayed flights, murmuring of unhappiness could be heard. Staff members passed blankets to those who wanted one. The lobby was chilly despite the many people around.

Eleven thirty on the dot, two girls who are working the evening shift at Roy's Easy Eats, are finally getting ready to go home. Due to the delay and last minute customers, they ended up closing an hour later. May, a few years older than Windy, redid her bun as she was waiting for Windy to finish her area.

"Hey May, sure you can take me home? My folks said they'll be here in about two hours," Windy asked.

"Yeah, it's fine. It's on my way home anyway," May responded. She pushed her baby hair back behind her ears and rubbed her eyes. The contacts in her eyes are getting uncomfortable.

"Okay. Thanks!" Windy said as she turned around and went to the back.

May watched a new group of business folks arrive at the crowded lobby. It's past eleven o'clock so most stores are closed now. All the restaurants are closed at the airport around 10 pm. No food except the retails for snacks. Much pity to be taken to the new arrivals.

"Windy, did you finish locking up?" May asked as she watched the new group of people settle down in front of them. A couple of young people moved out of their seats for the new arrivals. A mother and daughter sat down.

"Yeah, just grabbing my stuff now," Windy said.

Once Windy came up front, May grabbed her bag and they headed out. Little murmurs of dissatisfaction could be heard still. Some kids are crying and complaining somewhere.

"Mommy, I'm hungry!" The little girl who recently joined the boarding queue said loudly.

"All the restaurants are closed now, honey. Here is a snack bar, eat it and then go to sleep," the mother said. She was dressed in a navy business suit. Her looks and figure could rival that of a top class fashion model. Her daughter is cute as well. Hard to believe they were normal civilians and not some model family.

"But I don't like the snack bars! They are nasty!" the little girl wailed.

May looked at them with pity. 'Should I give them this? It is supposed to be my dinner. I'm going home anyways... I can eat later. They have nowhere to go,' May thought. She walked up to the mother and daughter and said, "Hello. I couldn't help overhearing but would you like to have this? It's a few hours old and cold now but it should fill you up." She handed out her take out box.

The mother and daughter looked up in surprise. "Oh no, it's your dinner. We can't just take it from you. You just got off work too. Thank you though," the mother said. The daughter tugged at her mother signaling she wanted the food.

"I'm going home anyways, and I can cook something once I get back. There's no restaurant open right now and probably won't for another 7 or 8 hours. She's hungry too. Take it, I don't mind," May said and smiled at them.

The mother looked at her daughter for a bit. She sighed and took the take out box. "Thank you," she said with a warm smile. The little girl's eyes beamed as she looked expectantly at the box.

"Oh! I have water too. It's unopened as well. Here you go," May flipped her bag around to the front and took out two water bottles. She handed them to the family and turned to leave.

"Thank you very much!" the mother and daughter said as she walked away. She nodded at them and turned around and left with Windy.

"You gave away your food? You haven't eaten since you got in today," Windy said with concern.