It’s time for another Micro-Fiction Monday. Because today’s story is a little longer than normal, I’ll be dividing it in two. You can find Part Two here tomorrow. Now don’t be afraid… This is only fiction…
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“Homeward Bound”
Part One
By: Rachel A. Carrera
The bumper to bumper traffic screeched to a halt as fine raindrops misted the windshield and the sounds of car horns flooded the night. Lloyd looked at his watch and frowned. “I’ll never make my flight at this rate. Can’t you go any faster?”
The cab driver flipped on the windshield wipers and blew a puff of cigar smoke. “I’m doing the best I can, mac. City traffic’s a nightmare… So, what do you think about Truman getting reelected?”
Lloyd sighed and slumped in the back seat. “I think it’s a good thing. I just didn’t feel that Dewey had it in him. I know he’s your governor, but I just didn’t think the White House was the place for him. Truman really stepped up to bat after we lost F.D.R., and I think he should have the opportunity to stay in Washington as long as he can. Are you sure there’s not a side road you can take that will get us there any faster?”
“Like I told you, I’m doing the best I can. Idlewild’s only been open a few months, and traffic’s murder. So, what brings you to New York?”
“I’m a salesman. I sell Hoovers. You don’t need a vacuum, do ya?”
The driver chuckled. “Not today, thanks. Oh, it looks like we’re moving now. So, where you headed?”
Lloyd anxiously leaned forward against the front seat and straightened his fedora. “Chicago. My company’s based there, and I live in the outskirts. I was out here meeting with some bigwigs in PanAm about buying a bunch of our machines.” As they approached the airport terminal, he frowned. “What’s the commotion over there?”
The driver snuffed out his cigar and rolled his eyes. “That’s a bunch of gypsies. We’ve been seeing more and more of them since the war. Usually they stay in the suburbs, but since Idlewild opened, some of them hang out here to panhandle.” He pulled by the curb and turned in his seat. “Alright, mac, that’ll be a buck sixty.”
Lloyd handed him two dollars and opened his door. “Thanks. Keep the change.” He grabbed his suitcase and briefcase, then slammed the door. As he headed inside, a woman approached him.
Her long, colorful skirt rustled, and a dozen necklaces around her neck jangled as she walked. The green scarf tied around her head added to her mysterious appearance. She smiled a crooked smile and spoke with a thick accent and raspy voice. “Hello. I tell your fortune?”
“Uh, no, that’s okay.” Lloyd checked his watch. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t want to miss my flight.” He attempted to step around her.
She stepped sideways and blocked his passage. “For six bits, I tell your fortune. You no make your flight to Chicago tonight. You go by train.”
He chuckled and dug in his pocket, then thrust three quarters at her. “Here you go. I don’t know how you knew where I was headed, but I’m afraid you’re wrong. I will be taking my flight. I’ve got twenty minutes to get out to the tarmac. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She dropped the coins in a change purse and strode swiftly to keep up with him. “No, you no make your flight. You take train. On train, you must stay away from room 210. That room is bad omen. When you meet the woman with the red-eyed snake, you beware. She carries your blood on her hands. You beware!”
Lloyd narrowed his eyes at her and hurried his gait. Without replying, he turned a corner and jogged toward the gate.
She stopped walking. Her voice was ominous as she called after him. “You beware!”
As he arrived at the gate, he pulled his ticket from his suit pocket and offered it to the stewardess. “I’d like to check in for my flight to Chicago Municipal. I was afraid I was going to miss my plane.” He chuckled nervously and straightened his tie.
The stewardess perused the ticket then returned it. “I’m sorry, sir, but that flight’s been canceled. With all this fog tonight, the entire airport’s grounded until morning.”
The hair on Lloyd’s arms stood on end. “What? Canceled? But I have to get home.”
“I’m sorry. You might consider taking a train. They’re still running.”
His chest deflated, and his temples started to throb. “Alright, thanks.” Thanks for nothing. He sighed and headed back outside to flag down a cab, going out of his way to avoid the band of gypsies.
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Well, that’s all for today, friends. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see what happens.
Time to talk: Have you guessed the year in which the story takes place yet? Have you ever ridden in a taxi?
1945-47 ?
Very close! It was November 1948. 🙂
I’m happy to say, that was before my time.
LOL! Mine, too! 😉
Lots of nice scene building and mood touches such as ‘Lloyd straightened his fedora’ etc. Enjoyed this rather a lot. I have by the way ridden in many a black cab in London in my time…generally driven by Eastenders cracking satirical jokes based on the days news!
Thank you, Sir Mike! Cabs are black there? (They’re yellow here.) I’m going to have to try one when I get there. 🙂
Cabs are only black in London…they are all sorts in these parts…indeed they (the cabbies that is) have a habit of locking the passengers in these days so they cannot run off without paying…most odd. We shall take you on the vernacular railway instead – it’s a Victorian thing see;
http://drawingexchange.org/blog/?p=56
Oh, wow… well. locking them in is actually pretty smart if people really run out without paying. That railway looks so COOL! I can’t wait! How’s the unpacking and repairs coming along?
60s? and yes, i’ve cabbed it more than once – enjoying your story so far )
Close… It was 1948. Thank you! 🙂
How frightening–if I was Lloyd, I wouldn’t want to take to train now–especially to meet that woman with the snake. Looking forward to see what will happen!
LOL! Thank you! I hope you liked the end. 🙂
Sounds spooky, can’t wait to read more. I’m going 40s on the year. As for can rides, well you can’t really live in ny without riding in a cab!
Yes, it was 1948. 🙂 Yes, that’s true about NYC. 🙂
Yey! I’m really terrible at history but it just so happened I was doing a history project with my daughter at the time so it helped out here. Did I mention she’s in 2nd grade?
Oh, wow! She must be quite a little genius! 🙂
Cool story, Rachel. I’ll be waiting for part 2. I didn’t know there were gypsies around Idlewild.
I’ve been in cabs many times–not recently though.
LOL! Thank you! The Idlewild gypsies never bothered you? 😉
Nope, not even once! 😉
LOL! 😉
Pingback: Homeward Bound –Part Two | Rachel Carrera, Novelist
Creepy stuff. I think I’d give the train a miss as well.
I won’t try guessing the year as I have no idea when any American presidents were in office. It looks like a long time ago though!
LOL! It was 1948. 🙂
Very good! I can really picture the cab driver and almost smell the cigar…
How cool! Thank you! 😀
Dang you, Rachel. This is too realistic for my own good. 🙂
LOL! Thanks, Mark! 🙂