The Baggage Handler

by David Rawlings

  He could do this.

  Michael looked out of the back window. The shrinking figure of the Baggage Handler simply tipped his hat again.

  31

  Gillian stood blinking on the street as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. She was nearly floating, and she couldn’t help but smile. Becky would be angry with her for taking her time dealing with her baggage, but that was okay. What she’d experienced was worth the apology she would have to make.

  Wheeling her suitcase behind her, she crossed the street to where Becky was waiting. The Audi looked a little dirtier than before.

  Gillian threw her suitcase into the back and then jumped into the passenger seat. “I’m so sorry it’s taken this long.” She braced herself for Becky’s onslaught.

  Becky looked up from her phone. “What are you talking about? You’ve been gone five minutes. I think that’s pretty good. We’re almost back on schedule.”

  Gillian glanced at the cracked dial of the clock on the Audi’s dashboard. Becky wasn’t kidding. How could it have been just five minutes? She smiled to herself as she pulled down the car’s visor and looked at herself in the mirror. Her reflection was the same as she’d last seen it in the baggage depot. The bags under her eyes weren’t as pronounced, and now there was a sparkle in her eyes.

  Becky started down the street as Gillian whistled that song that was so familiar. Then lyrics that had eluded her burst from her lips: “You’re beautiful / you’re beautiful, it’s true.” Gillian chuckled. So that’s what he was whistling.

  As she smiled out the front window, from the corner of her eye she saw Becky look at her. “You seem to have perked up a lot. You got your baggage sorted out, then?”

  “More than you’ll ever know.” Gillian turned to her sister and tried again to connect. “When will I get to catch up with Brent?”

  The Audi slowed ever so slightly, and Becky’s gaze lingered for too long in the rearview mirror.

  Gillian decided to persist. It was an important question to ask. “It would be good to know how he’s doing.”

  Becky was silent, which was new in itself. Gillian studied her sister, the superhero who needed the cape. The crow’s-feet around Becky’s eyes crinkled as tears welled.

  “If we’re going to catch up over lunch, Becky, it would be good to know how you’re really doing. It’s been too long since we’ve really talked, you know, properly.”

  Her sister’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel before she choked back a sigh. “Did I tell you Jessica’s wedding dress is based on a design from that Hollywood wedding TV show . . .”

  Gillian looked back at the white building as it disappeared into the side mirror. A lone figure stood outside it, and she could just make him out in the distance as they drove away. He was doffing his navy-blue cap.

  EPILOGUE

  The Baggage Handler leaned on his shiny silver baggage cart in the deserted baggage claim area of the airport. The carousels were quiet.

  A low rumble in the distance announced another fleet of aircraft bringing more passengers who needed help with their baggage. He smiled as the screens flickered into life and directed a tsunami of travelers his way.

  Young backpackers, carefree and not beholden to any clock or calendar.

  Young mothers with babes in arms, relieved at escaping from the microscope of a plane full of passengers.

  Kids running ahead of tired parents who had given up their demands to slow down.

  Retirees on vacations they’d worked a lifetime to earn.

  Businessmen on the run to or from the machinations of a deal.

  They all headed in his direction.

  Some of the travelers struggled with backpacks and jam-packed carry-on baggage as if the weight was too much to carry. Some hurried as if they were racing Father Time himself. Some of them dawdled as if picking up their baggage would start a journey they didn’t want to begin.

  The Baggage Handler smiled and tipped his cap toward the incoming crowd. He spun the cart with effortless ease and headed toward them, a whistle on his lips.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Hi, friend. Thanks for reading The Baggage Handler. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to not only read but digest a story I’ve had a lot of fun writing.

  We all have baggage. Some of it we packed ourselves and willingly carry. Some was packed for us, and we carry it out of favor or responsibility. And some was jammed in there without our knowing.

  But no matter how it got there, we still feel its weight.

  The following questions aren’t designed to be homework, nor are they designed to be one of those study group worksheets you diligently work through from top to bottom. They are designed to start your own thought processes, conversations, or discussions about baggage—or any other issues raised.

  How do you respond to the issue of your baggage, how it got there, and how you’re carrying it?

  If it helps, I’ll start whistling a tune that’s familiar yet somehow elusive.

  Regards,

  David

  SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU

  Chapters 1–7

  •Do you know people who show signs of carrying baggage? What are those signs?

  •Do you identify with any of the characters in this story? If so, which character do you identify with the most?

  •Do you see other people in your life in these characters? (If so, lend them this book.)

  •Do you know of people like Becky? What impact do they have on you?

  •If Michael could have impressed the coach, how do you think he would have fared?

  •Do you think David’s mantra of remembering happier times is enough to help him deal with his issues? Should it be?

  •What is Gillian’s real baggage?

  Chapters 8–14

  •Do you see any link between David’s branch being considered for closing and David’s baggage?

  •What do you believe the Baggage Services building is?

  •Why do you think the entry points to Baggage Services are different for each of the three characters?

  •Do you think there’s significance in Gillian’s ability to easily find the entrance while the other two characters have to hunt for it?

  Chapters 15–20

  •If you were to go to Baggage Services, what do you think your waiting room would look like?

  •What do you think is the general theme of Michael’s waiting room?

  •Why do you think Gillian’s waiting room seemed perfect?

  •What do you think is the significance of the rust color on the cloth the Baggage Handler used to clean Gillian’s glasses?

  •If you consider David’s waiting room, what role do you think the alarm clock plays? Do you have a ticking clock in your life?

  •What do you think is the significance of David’s encounter in the corridor?

  Chapters 21–27

  •Do you think it’s fair that David is carrying baggage even though his wife was the one who broke her marriage vows? Why or why not?

  •Why do you think David can’t simply tear up his baggage and throw it away?

  •What do you think is the impact of refusing to forgive others? Do you know people who simply refuse to forgive others who have hurt them? How is that working for them?

  •At what stage of each encounter does the Baggage Handler look at David, Gillian, and Michael with a look approaching wistfulness? What do you think that look means?

  •Michael’s baggage was packed by his father. Do you think that’s fair? Why or why not?

  •How do others place items into your baggage? Is that fair?

  Chapters 28–31

  •Why do you think it’s important for David to forgive his wife instead of just moving on after leaving his baggage behind?

  •What significance do you think is in each character needing to look into a mirror before being allowed to move on from Baggage Services?

  •Why do you think Gillian has so much trouble doing that? Woul
d you?

  •Why do you think Michael finds it hard to let go of his certificate?

  •What do you think it is about baggage that defines us?

  •Do you think it’s possible to live life without any baggage?

  •Why do you think people find it difficult to deal with issues in their lives?

  •What was the impact of Gillian comparing herself to everyone in her life?

  •In what distorted ways do you—or those around you—see yourself? What mirror do you use?

  If you’ve come this far into my story, would you like to see more?

  Please sign up for my newsletter to be notified about future books. On my website, you can also read some excerpts and enjoy a short story or two while you are there.

  www.davidrawlings.com.au

  And I’d love to connect with you:

  Facebook: David Rawlings – Author

  Instagram: davidrawlingsauthor

  Twitter: @DavidJRawlings

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To God: thank you for sending this idea, for the ability to do it justice, and for helping me make time in a crowded schedule to put it on the page.

  To my family: Nicky, Cameron, Daniella, and Emily, thank you for your patience in allowing me to chase this idea, and to my parents, thank you for your unwavering support.

  To my publishing team at Thomas Nelson: Becky Monds, my editorial director, thank you for wanting to see this story on the shelves almost as much as I did; Paul Fisher and his team, thanks for your willingness to kick ideas around; and Amanda Bostic and the rest of the team, thank you for the great work you do in bringing great stories to life.

  To my supporters: James L. Rubart, thanks for your guidance, connections, and unbridled enthusiasm; Steve Laube, thanks for taking a chance with a story that was different; and the Fulwood family, thank you for your ideas and friendship.

  To my global colleagues: Karen Sargent, Tisha Martin, Sarah Nuss, Ian Acheson, and Jebraun Clifford, thank you for your support over great distance—among the support of many, many others.

  To the counselors I’ve spoken with and worked with: thanks for your insights and your passion for helping people be the best people they can be.

  All characters in this work are fictitious. Resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, although based on my forty-odd years of dealing with people.

  No baggage was harmed in the writing of this story, although it was dealt with—as it should be.