Aditus' prompts and circumstances - 6. Home again

Home again?

I stood in front of the departure gate, and of course Chris was nowhere in sight. Then somebody called my name. “Jonah! Hey Jonah… over here!” Michael. He waved at me with what looked like a hat and suddenly I felt the cold. I had totally forgotten about that. A hat would be good, and gloves, and definitely a warmer jacket.

I grabbed my suitcase and my duffle bag and crossed the street. “Hey Michael, didn’t Chris say he’d pick me up by the departure gate?”

“Yeah, but we could find a place to park, so I got out of the car to get you. He’s waiting at the entrance of the garage over there.” He took my bag. “So how was your flight?”

“It was okay. I didn’t sleep, though.”

“Yeah Chris told me you never sleep on the plane or the train. You hate that people could watch you sleeping.”

“Yeah something like that.” I suddenly shivered in the biting wind. “I hope the car is all warmed up. I forgot how cold it is here at this time of the year.”

“Well, it’s not that bad; but I think if you come from Sicily…”

We reached the parking garage where Chris was waiting for us. He got out of the car as soon as he saw us coming and opened the trunk. “Hey Jonah, sorry for not waiting at the departure gate, but…”

“Yeah, it’s okay; Michael already explained everything to me.” I rubbed my arms to get warm. “Come on, let’s get inside; it’s fucking cold out here.”

Finally in the car I ask Chris “So, where did you get me a room?”

“No hotel for you my friend; you’ll sleep in our guest room.” When I tried to protest he shook his head. “You’ll have a spare key and you can come and go as you please.” He touched my arm. “This way somebody will be there just in case you need a friend.”

“But…”

“No buts. You can use the kitchen, you have your own bathroom, a TV; it’s almost like a hotel room but with a-friend-to-talk service 24/7.” He seemed very determined on this.

“Okay, who could reject that?” I grinned.

They didn’t pester me about my plans. They knew I’d explain it to them in my own time. It’s good to have such great friends.