Standing at the airport with a placard having the name 'Joan Macpherson' on it, my legs couldn't help but tremble. I stood there anxiously with my bodyguards waiting for the plane to land.
Source
From time to time, I'd check my Rolex watch in impatience.
"Sir, the plane would land in thirty minutes," my P. A said when he saw my impatience
"I think you should look for a place to eat first or at least sit for a little while before then," he chipped in carefully.
"Don't worry, I'm ok," I replied.
I stood upright looking at the landing area from time to time but no plane landed. Thirty minutes later, the plane landed and came to a halt while the passengers began to exit the plane. This scenario took me back to twenty years ago when we first met.
It was my first family trip with all members of my family present. The excitement was real and as I hopped on, unable to escape the grasp of my mom, joy surged within me, making me giggle at everyone's jokes- even the unfunny ones. I hopped steadily but my mom frowned slightly
"Jake, don't hop so much in the airport.
You can do that at the beach," Mom said, worried I would trip and fall. Her brows creased tightly as she continued talking and only relaxed when my sister broke the ice. I was barely eight years old then. I took two steps at a time, trying to keep up with my mom's pace.
"I want to ease myself, Mom," I said.
She pointed at the restroom not too far away and watched as I went to relieve myself. Violent sobs greeted me as I got in. I looked around, looking for the one making the sounds.
I went from one restroom to the other but found no one. I turned to leave when my eyes caught sight of a little figure squeezed in a corner, her back was trembling as she sobbed violently. I approached her carefully and tapped her lightly on the shoulders. Startled, she jumped in fright and looked at me,
"I'm sorry to disturb you but why are you here all by yourself, crying," I asked her.
She looked aggrieved for a moment before she resumed crying. I wondered if I had said anything wrong.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset," I added quickly
She turned to look at me, then messily wiped the tear streaks on her face.
"I came to the airport with my mommy and daddy but now, I can not find my mommy and daddy," she said in between bouts of hiccups.
"Don't worry, I'll take you to meet my own parents and they'll help you find your mom and dad,ok?" I said
She nodded several times and tried unsuccessfully to clean the fresh tears gliding down her face. I took her by the hand to wash her face in the sink before taking her to my mom. Mom's eyes widened in surprise and she almost spewed fire from her mouth.
"She can't find her parents, I thought we'd help,' I said
Dad was on a phone call a few steps away. Mom calmed down immediately but still frowned.
"What is your name, young girl," she asked
"Joan Macpherson," Joan said.
"Macpherson," Mom sounded deep in thought.
"Where do your parents work," she asked again
"My dad works at a tax office," six-year-old Joan answered to the best of her ability.
Mom's eyes suddenly lit up.
"I know your father. I'll call him immediately," she picked up her phone and called him.
And that was how our friendship started. Mom would tease me by calling Joan my girlfriend.
"Your girlfriend's father said your girlfriend is going to attend Kings High School. Do you want to go there too?" Mom would ask
"She's not my girlfriend, mom!" I would complain and whine.
"Ok then, I think St Patrick's High School is not a bad choice..."
"No!
No!
No!" I interrupted in a hurry.
"I'll go to Kings High School," I said
Mom's laughter reverberated through the house but she didn't tease me anymore. She just nodded. During our last year in high school, Joan became my girlfriend but had to travel abroad to study for three years. I felt like my heart had been ripped apart.
Thinking back to those nights I couldn't reach her, to all the girls I said no to and all the times I mistook a stranger on the street to be her, I smile because I'll finally hold Joan in my hands today.
"Jake?" I heard a faint voice call my name.
"Joan," I called, choking up. My eyes reddened in an instant and my Adam's apple bobbed as I swallowed nothing.
The placard fell to the floor and she abandoned her bag as we sprinted towards each other. I hugged her tightly to myself and basked in her sweet smell. Oh, how I've missed my Joan.
