That Which is Unexpected

by A.L. Bridges

  Chapter 3: Reminiscence

  “I’ve already changed your flight home in two weeks for Rei’s graduation and birthday to a flight for today at 1 am,” Sara tells me after taking the phone away from a crying and choked up Cheza.

  “Alright I’ll see you soon,” I reply while hopping around, trying to put on my jeans.

  “Wait!” I shout into the phone while falling over.

  “COLE!? COLE!? ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? TALK TO ME COLE!” I hear Sara frantically yelling through the speaker. “I’m fine Sara. I just fell over trying to put on my jeans.”

  “Thank the gods. If they had gotten you too…” Sara says before trailing off. What the hell does she mean by that? “Anyway, do you need something? You said wait just before you fell over putting on your jeans, probably while hopping around like an idiot.”

  She knows too much…

  “Is Kira there?” I ask.

  “No, she is flying home tonight from Peru,” Sara replies.

  No big surprise there. Kira was rarely home despite being married to Eric. I could probably count the number of times I’d seen her on one hand.

  “Alright, I’ll see you guys in a few hours,” I say and press the end call button on my phone.

  I get up and walk to the front door, pausing for a few moments in front of the room that has been vacant for nearly five months. I’m unable to shake thoughts of Jason or the memories of that dream from my head. I’m out the door (wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and my grey leather jacket that Cheza gave me for my eighteenth birthday, which is my favorite jacket despite having a broken zipper) with a duffle bag full of clothes and at SeaTac airport in less than an hour—just one of the benefits of having an apartment in north Seattle.

  When sitting at the terminal waiting for your flight without headphones because your stupid ass forgot them, there is not a whole lot to do. I pull out my phone and look at the text I had received nearly two days ago:

  Happy Birthday Cole! Sorry for the text but the reception is shit here in Greenland. I’ll see you in a few weeks for Chezarei’s birthday and graduation.

  –Uncle Eric