Chapter 2 cont'd

I call Eric. I know he’ll help me.

“Hello?”
“Hey, what’s up?” I say, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Not much. What’s going on? I thought you were leaving today.”
“I am. My flight leaves in a few hours and I thought that my step dad was going to take me but he freaked out on me. Something about rapes and diseases. He’d rather not.”
“Ok…”
“ I was wondering,” I demurely say, “If maybe you could take me to the airport.”
“Well, I was supposed to work today. No one else can take you?”
“No, I didn’t plan well. I’m fully aware of this. So you’ll do it?” I know he won‘t leave me high and dry. He’s just so great like that. I could ask him for a kidney and I know he’d give me one.
“Of course I’ll do it. I can be a little late to work. What time should I come to get you?”
“3 o’ clock. You’re the best. I’ll see you then!” See? How could I not be in love with some one that caring and that reliable?

Two hours until I have to be on the plane. I guess I should get packing. I impressively jam three weeks worth of clothes into a carry-on bag, and Eric pulls up. My cats know I’m leaving and they’re ticked. I tell them I love them, that grandma will come see them every day, and I leave. As I step out the door, I get an overwhelming feeling that when I come back I will never be the same. It feels like the world is spinning at an incredible rate of speed and I can’t quite catch my balance. That was weird. I try to shake the feeling and I get into Eric’s car.

“Ready?” Eric asks.
“As I’ll ever be. I’m really nervous. I’ve got to be one of the only crazy people actually flying into the city that the major attacks happened in. Am I insane?”
“Yes, but for many reasons other than this. You’ll be fine. I know you will be. You’re going to have a fabulous time with your sister.”
“Good God. That’s a whole other thing that’s freaking me out. I haven’t seen her in over ten years! What if she doesn’t like me? What if I don’t like her? What if we’re completely different and don’t get along? What if I get abducted and raped in Central Park?”
“What?! Calm down. Do not overanalyze this now. You have an entire plane ride to think about it. So save me the drama and do it on your own time,” he says and smiles.