(Instant Transit - Part 5)
When Florence dove back into the choppy sea of travelers, her head bobbed up and down like a curious seal exploring a new marina.
"THIS IS THE FINAL CALL FOR PASSENGERS FLYING ON EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHT 510 TO NEW YORK DEPARTING AT 9:30"
The bobbing stopped. The message on the PA reminded Florence of a ritual she performed every Sunday morning like clockwork. She had to get to a quiet place. She cautiously dodged the crosscurrent of people and waded over to a wall at the back of Terminal 1. She followed the wall until she came upon a stall with wooden folding doors, a tiny curved bench and a telephone attached to the wall. She stepped inside and closed the door. Her butterscotch yellow overnight case made a loud thump as she placed it on the bench. Then she made a click click with the latches and a snap snap of her coin purse.
She spun around, took the receiver from the telephone hook, put one dime in the ten cent slot and one nickel in the five cent slot. Then she placed her finger on a chrome dial with ten holes and rotated the dial seven times. She put the phone to her ear and waited.
"Hi Faye it's me.... How's everything? Are you feeling ok?... What did Dr. Redmond say?... Thalidomide?... And how's old whats-his-face? Is he back at work?... He's not?... What?... The Navy!... But, didn't you tell him?... Oh, honey you're going on 10 weeks now!... What?... You don't want to worry him?... You know what. I'm sorry. You know. That man....He doesn't deserve you.... What?... Well... I just think... You... Faye Dorothy Adkins, as my best friend, you deserve better. You're too good to him and he.... Well.... He just takes you for granted.... Alright. I'm sorry. Alright. I won't start up again.... Fine.... Fine!... I SAID fine Faye!"
Tap. Tap. Tap. Florence turned around and saw the face of a man in a business suit staring through the folding doors at her.
"Excuse me miss. The other phones are out of order. Would you mind? I've got a flight to catch."
Florence tried to cover the receiver but it was too late.
"What was what?" Florence turned her head away from the man. "Where am I?... The airport?... What on earth do you mean?... Of course I'm not at the airport.... It's just that creepy guy from down the hall. I think he's been drinking again.... I called the police.... No of course not.... They never came.... I'm pretty sure he pals around with them in the evenings."
"THIS IS THE SECOND FINAL CALL FOR PASSENGERS FLYING ON EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHT 510 TO NEW YORK DEPARTING AT 9:30"
"What?... Ok fine! You got me Faye.... I'm at the airport. So what?" Florence anxiously looked at the man waiting outside the phone booth.
"Please miss. I need to make a call."
Florence continued to ignored him.
"My father called?... When?... Last night?... Yes but why?... Mother made him do it didn't she.... She must've learned that I'm not attending service.... Oh Faye!... You know I can't live there anymore.... Oh don't you worry. I can manage. I'll figure it out.... It's only for a semester until... Oh I'll pay for school without their help.... No. I won't. I won't do it."
"THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL CALL FOR PASSENGERS FLYING ON EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHT 510 TO NEW YORK DEPARTING AT 9:30"
"Faye?... Can you hear me Faye?... Remember that day high school, in Home Ec class?.... When I botched that Lane cake that evil Mrs. Crosset made me, AND ONLY ME, prepare.... That put me down a letter grade and her son." Florence bit her lip as it started to quiver. She tried to hold back her tears as she stared at the man outside the phone booth.
"He was ranked below me!... And I lost the valedictorian spot.... AND the scholarship...." Florence turned around and hid her face as she wept uncontrollably. The man outside walked away.
"And you helped me.... I should've listened to you that night when we practiced the recipe. I was arrogant and angry.... You held me while I cried.... Oh Faye. I feel so hopeless and fragile right now."
Florence fumbled around in her butterscotch yellow overnight case for a handkerchief. She knelt down and stared at herself in the bag's built-in mirror.
"Oh dear Faye. I've ruined my face....What?... Yes of course I'm coming home.... What?... Listen Faye. Some folks take walks in the park. I'm not like them. I just need a little more that's all.... Don't worry about me Faye.... I'll probably head over to the library later. I hear they have several copies of that new Agatha Christie novel. You know. 'A Passage to Frankfurt'.