No Exit
Shuffling a giant duffle bag
and a screaming squirming child,
down the narrow jumbo jet aisle
she’s maybe twenty.
She’s lost her hairbrush
and her coat hangs off one shoulder.
She stops in front of you, turns,
whispers through dried cracked lips—
Let me off this plane.
Her purple-rimmed eyes look only at you,
not the hundred or so edgy travelers behind you—
then she starts to yell—
Let me off! Let me off!
Faces merge like eggs scrambled
in a pan, the sounds metallic,
in this tight space
they bounce like ball bearings.
A young man offers his seat,
a door latches, we taxi
and lift, no stopping
this, not ever.
3 replies on “No Exit”
Pam, this was one of those times when I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what would happen! I loved the descriptions of the eggs in a pan and the metallic sounds! Bless that young man for giving her his seat…I hope it was first class!
I’ve never received anything from this site. Thank you, I really enjoyed it!
I’ve been there. Oh yes. baby & duffel bag
Beautifully rendered. breathless reading. thank you!