well...the official narrator of the story is busy, so he asked me to provide with the introduction of the story...
I did my best...hope you appreciate my effort...
====================== INTRODUCTION =========================
Ok, this is what I really call CHAOS.
I am at the airport, at the international departures hall and indeed I don’t know where I can walk. There’s people everywhere and especially no space to go. I try to step in, pulling my cabin size trolley behind but a sort of human wall is blocking my way.
I am paying a special attention to my shoulder bag, where I keep not only my passport and money, but also the proposal of the contract that I need to submit to the counterpart in US. It is the most important and lucrative contract ever made by the company and our future could depend from it. I need to finalize it. I must finalize it, at any cost.
It is of the utter importance that I fly today and get to New York at the soonest to get it signed but the more I try unsuccessfully to walk in, the more I think of the words of the Indian cab driver, saying with his funny accent.
- Miss, you cannot get a flight today. There is a major strike and even the news said to avoid going to the airport…-
- I know, I know what the news said, but I have a ticket for today and though I got a text from the air company telling that they will change it for a new flight tomorrow, I still have a chance to get moved to another flight scheduled by a sister company that is not affected by this stupid strike. –
I still watch the reassuring text message that my friend Louise sent me.
- Get to the airport. Go to the air company desk. I know that they still have some seats on another flight that is taking off after lunch. Be fast…!! –
I check my watch. Still mid morning but I need to get to that damn counter and I am feeling lost amid all these useless people obstructing my way.
I start pushing, using my elbows and my anger till slowly but constantly I move, step by step, slowly but I finally manage to get to the queue in front of the air company desk. Well, from what I see they are working changing the tickets into other flights.
The strike of their on board personnel is affecting only them.
I keep my fingers crossed. I have now four people ahead of me and there is another queue beside mine. I feel confident now. May be I can indeed get the ticket changed on a flight today. I see relieved passengers leaving the desk holding the new tickets in their hands. I feel more relaxed. Three persons only. Suddenly my heart jumps. I see in the other queue a person that I would not like to see here, right now. I know her very well. The light brunette bitch, not really sure of her full name. Flo something. It does not matter, it is not important. What counts is that she works for our main rival company and I am very sure that her presence here, at the airport today is not a coincidence. She has seen me too and our eyes meet. I see her smirking expression and I answer sending my best challenging smile, happy to see that she has four people before her turn.
I’ll be at the counter before her. I raise my hand pretending to revive my raven hair, but indeed I show her my middle finger, she sees it and now her angry face tells everything as I can not hear what is exiting her mouth in the loud noise surrounding me. Surely she is not wishing me a nice flight. She is fuming as now only two persons divide me from getting to the counter, surely before her.
- Com’n. – I think as my queue is slowing down cause of a damn fat old lady that is complaining for something with the hostess.
– Fuck you. Get that ticket and move on.- I think as now Flo’s queue is getting faster and she is almost getting in front on me.
I nervously step on my stiletto heels, ticketing on the shining tiled floor.
Well, at last the old woman has gone, leaving only one remaining passenger before my turn. Flo is in the same position. We shall be both next to get to the counter and indeed that is what happens.
I hand my ticket to the surely stressed young blonde hostess that though can find the force to smile at me. – Please, put me on today’s flight. –
- Sure madam. There are still a couple of seats left. Let me see…..mmmm –
I look at my left side. Flo is talking too to the steward in front of her.
- Sorry madam, but there is a problem. – these words freeze my blood in my veins.
- Problem ? – I mutter. – What problem ? –
The young blonde hostess looks at me with her sweet blue eyes as she is still typing fast on the keyboard. – I got the ticket but I cannot complete the procedure. Excuse me for a second. – she turns toward her colleague, asking something then few seconds later she is back to me. – Well, madam. It looks that both me and my colleague began the procedure to issue the ticket together, at the same time and now none of us is able to complete it. –
I am lost. – What are you talking about ? I cannot follow you. –
- It means that there is only one ticket left and we are both trying to get it. So we are both stuck. May be you can talk with the other passenger and get an agreement about who is getting the ticket. We need that one PC leaves the page and allows the other to complete the procedure. -
- So, if I catch you, I have to talk with that other woman there and agree with her who is flying today ? -
The hostess smiles. – Yes, sure. I am sure that you two can get a reasonable deal. –
- So, bitch ? – Flo’s rough voice echoes beside me as she is now standing right at my side. – It looks that you are not flying today. -
I turn, facing her. – Wrong, slut. You are the one that is staying here seating and waiting for tomorrow. –
- No way, cxnt…-
On the other side of the counter the steward and the hostess are realizing that this is not getting good at all. They look at each other then the tall steward walks around the counter and steps in separating us from getting into a physical contact.
- Ladies, ladies, please. – He looks alternatively at both of us.
- I am sure that we can get to a good and reasonable agreement. –
I look at Flo then at the young man. The brunette bitch is doing the same and together
we bark into his face. – No way. I am flying today..-
The young steward now understands that there cannot be an easy solution to this tense situation. He turns to his colleague that is talking at the telephone then comes back to us. – Well. What if you settle this in some way ? May be playing poker or who picks the higher card..or..-
- And what if we fight and the winner gets it…? - Flo’s words land as heavy as a rock. The steward looks shocked, but I am considering the blonde bitch’s proposal in my mind. – Why not ? - I say. – It is fine to me. What rules ? -
- No rules, bitch. Fight to the end till one of us, I mean you for sure, will be out cold on the floor. –
The hostess and the steward look at each other.
They look puzzled and utterly surprised.
- So ? – I ask, pushing the man. – It is fine for us. Just show us a place where I can close this slut’s mouth and get my ticket. -
- Well, we have a private lounge at the second floor that today is closed for renovation but I can let you access it and settle your problem privately there. –
- Fine. – we say together. – let’s go there. -
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