Page 9 of Time Served in New York
“That meansyouare the only one big enough to carry Soda off this plane,” I explained. “The other guys might be able to get Hook, but Soda’s a big boy.”
“I think you should donate your second gummy to Sin,” Sis suggested. “He probably needs it more than you do.”
“Why?”
I grinned at Paula before I motioned toward the back of the plane. “He saw Sara going into the bathroom with Trident.”
Paula’s laugh was evil as she took her container of gummies and walked toward the front of the plane where Sin and Lyric were sitting.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the last passengers have boarded, and the flight crew is prepared for take off,” the flight attendant announced.
“Shit!” Marques agonized before he buckled the seat belt across his lap. He tightened it so much that I was worried about his circulation, but I didn’t say anything because he leaned his head back and in a frantic whisper started chanting, “I’m not gonna die today.”
I saw Paula hurrying down the aisle toward me and put my hand up to stop her. “Give me another one.”
Without a word, Paula popped the container open and handed me a square gummy before she rushed toward the back of the plane where Hook was waiting for her.
“Marques, chew this time. It might make it digest faster.”
Sis chimed in from behind me, “Maybe he should hold it under his tongue so it dissolves or something.”
Marques kept his eyes closed and just let his mouth drop open and stuck his tongue out.
“It’s gonna be okay, big guy,” Sis said as she reached between the seats and put her hand on his shoulder. “We’ll take care of you.”
I buckled my seat belt as the attendant walked toward me and then I took Marques’s hand. He clutched mine like a lifeline, so I leaned against his shoulder and slowly rubbed his chest as the plane started moving to get into position for takeoff.
“Love you, Pickle.”
“I love you, too, Marques. It’s going to be over before you know it,” I reassured him.
That prompted more than one of our friends to shout, “That’s what she said!”
???
BERNADETTE
“How are you doing, Birdie?” Valentine asked once the plane took off and everyone started mingling and talking again.
“I’m fine. I don’t mind flying.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Valentine said as he reached for my hand. “We’re going home and . . .”
“My home is in Texas with you.”
“You know what I mean,” Valentine pressed. “You haven’t gone back without watching over your shoulder for years. How are you feeling about that?”
“I’m excited. I’ll get to see Carol and check on my house. And I can’t wait to go to Westchester Square and get donuts from this . . .”
“Westchester? You’re from the Bronx?”
“You’re just now figuring that out?”
Valentine laughed softly and shook his head. “I know you said you were thinking about selling your house since Carol’s moving and won’t be able to keep an eye on it, but if it’s in the Bronx, my boys can make sure everything’s okay for you.”
“Oh, I’d hate for them to go out of their way.”
“They live in Manhattan now, but their, um . . . work is in the Bronx.”
