By Erika Hoffman
Anyway, I told the
unfriendly ticketer about the ordered wheel
chair (which I had already asked the skycap
about outside before handing him a five dollar
bill) and soon an Indian attendant appeared. She
wasted no time in putting Dad in the chair and
briskly wheeled him toward the elevator. We
zoomed to the security portal. Surprisingly, it was not busy. The lines
were short at RDU on this Saturday afternoon. The black guard joked pleasantly with my
old father. Most people are very solicitous I’ve
found, and I do appreciate “the kindness of
strangers” toward my elderly parent. In fact, I often depend on it when Dad is
traveling alone.
The Indian lady spoke
limited English but was very efficient and
quickly removed all Dad’s belongings that might
set off alarms. She whisked him through. I had only to
care for myself. By the time I slid on my sandals,
gathered up my purse, cell phone, and
identifying passport, she had Dad back in the
wheelchair and was tying his sneakers. In fact, I bent over to make a double
knot, and she told me that she had already tied
them securely.
Without a hitch, she rolled
him to the gate. I had to do double time to keep up. When
we arrived at the point of departure, I thanked
her. Dad produced a five dollar bill from his
pocket and handed it to the woman. Then, I
helped Dad out of the wheelchair so she could
take it back with her. Only a few paces away
were rows of chairs. Dad would be fine sitting
in one of them until his flight boarded. He
clutched his cane and needed to take a step or
two before he could plop down again.
She whisked the chair away
as soon as Dad arose.
He slowly
began the walk. He hobbled. He grimaced, and his
one foot twisted onto its side. He seemed to
lose his balance, and I feared a fall.
“Are you okay?” I asked
him. I
thought Dad was woozy from getting up too fast. Then, his leg looked as though he had
sudden paralysis. Was Dad having a stroke?
“My foot, Erika.”
“What’s the matter with
your foot, Dad?”
“I think there’s something
in my shoe.”
“Dad, now how can that be? We took off your sneakers for the scanner
and the nice lady, who pushed you, put them back
on.”
“There’s a rock in there!”
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