flight

Saturday, 27th of April, 2019

Ripped from sleep by a seaside melody from

the telephone on the table, stagger to the table,

turn the telephone off.

It is a quarter to-three in the morning.

It is dark outside, there is the sound of rain and

wind

The clothes

are placed ready and waiting in

front of the bed, there is the little bag beside the

bed, the small brown one with the papers and

the passport. Close the little blue suitcase, once

the night clothes are packed away into it.

The son is fast asleep, his alarm clock failed in

the night. He is not in the least amused, he

wants to continue sleeping.

There is no way that this can be allowed. There

is a car to be returned at Dublin airport, a

check-in to be found, a bag to be dropped and

a flight to be boarded. so persist in waking

him, despite abuse, despite the rain and the

impossibility to find a fresh hair of underpants.

Persist untill the cries of rage abate. carry out

the little blue bag, a tiny hand suitcase. Return,

check the-1 brown bay, passports, boarding cards

all there. The son has finished, his bags are

packed, he is ready.

Turn of the lights, leave the little house

behind in the rain. The lady of

the house comes down, she has been wakened

by all the noise. There is time for a hug and

a thank you, time for her to wish for a safe

journey..

Drive on down through the rain, there are

broken branches onthetiny country road,

there is water flowing on the black asphalt

surface.. A stick hits the bottom of the vehicle

as it passes over it. It is a drive down a

windy road in an murky dark night,

down to the traffic lights in Old Bawn,

and on to the M 5.

There are'

warning signs up informing

of surface moisture on the road, the spray

from a truck is blinding. But the road is

clear, and apart from the Trucks and a bus,

the traffic in negligible..

The airport roads are confusing, car

parks, and lanes exclusive lanes and

bus lanes.

Take a

trip around the

block, but then find the right entrance.

A man in a green vest appears, a man

with a polish accent. He takes the car

keys., checks the name. He gives directions

to Terminal one.

A long walk through an empty building.