"Golden Texas Tea" (pg 11)

Heading downstairs with her luggage, she woke up Malibu long enough to tell her, "that some last minute instructions would be left for you on the refrigerator and that I'll give you a call when I arrive in Connecticut."

Ten minutes later, as she was finishing the last of the written instructions, the cab pulled into the driveway and blew its horn. Quickly sticking the instructions on the refrigerator, Azalea made her way to the front door, where she was greeted by both of the children and Malibu. Giving each one a quick hug, she hurriedly went to the cab as the driver carried her luggage out for her.

Taking off for the airport, Azalea turned around to see all three waving goodbye. Eyes tearing up, she waved back until they were out of sight. Settling down in the seat, she asked the driver, "to wake her up when they get there." Thirty minutes later, she was awakened by the driver, who told her that they were at the departure gate. Thanking him, she paid the fare plus tip, before disappearing inside.

Approaching the ticket window, Azalea got checked in for the flight. Sauntering towards the departure area, she got through the sparse crowd very quickly and plopped down in a vacant seat, and waited to be called for boarding. Within a few minutes, her name was called with the rest of the first class section to begin boarding for the flight. Promptly settling in, she soon fell asleep and didn't awaken until the attendant gently nudged her just as the plane was making its descent.

"Ma'am, it's time to wake up now. We're starting our approach, so you should be alert and prepared for the landing."

"Thank you." said Azalea, as she struggled to get back to the hear and now, as opposed to the there and before of her memories.

After a relatively smooth landing, the plane spent the next twenty minutes taxiing to the gate. While the plane was taxiing, Azalea straightened herself out as best she could, brushing her air and re-touching her face. By the time the plane arrived at the gate, she was more than ready to continue with the next phase of her trip: retrieving her rental and finding a room for the night.

Disembarking, Azalea headed straight for the baggage claim area. About fifteen minutes later, the conveyor belt finally started. Slowly at first, it unexpectedly picked up speed until the belt was going so fast that the luggage flew off, hitting the bewildered and terrified passengers left and right.