Flapping My Left Wing by Hannah Fortune

Chick waved good-bye to Pearl as her friend sped out of the driveway.  It’s good to be home, thought Chick as she opened her front door and headed for the kitchen. The first sight that confronted her was a sinkful of dirty dishes. “Yuk! I thought I did these”, she said out loud, searching for her afternoon cup.

It feels like I’ve been gone for weeks, and then in a day or so, it will seem like I’ve never been away, she mused, settling back with her mug of tea in front of her computer.  She’d received only three phone calls in her absence, but she had 179 new emails, not counting spam. Most were from political organizations or news sources like Common Dreams, True Majority, MoveOn, a few from friends, and several from Hillary and Chelsea. Back to reality, thought Chick.  She couldn’t face the fact that Hillary might not win the nomination. There’s still a chance, she thought bravely.

Puzzled over the sad fact that so many women she knew were not backing Hillary, she did understand the total frustration with the Democratic Party, since primary votes in Florida still were not being counted. A lover of polls and statistics, Chick followed a link from The Huffington Post to the latest Presidential polls.

“Aaaagghh…..agh…agh!, said Chick loudly. It showed McCain virtually neck and neck with Hillary or Obama. Nearly a dead heat. How could this be? Half of the country was going to go for another Republican? She thought of Henny. How was her friend? Chick had pushed thoughts of Henny’s strange behavior to the far recesses of her brain, along with her big peace plans. She felt a twinge of guilt, but it was after 10PM and too late to call anyone. It was her general rule not to make phone calls after 9PM or before 9AM, though she had friends who had no such qualms. To prove the point, her phone rang.

Caller ID told her it was Goosey. “What’s new, Goosey?”, Chick said as she answered. “What’s new with you is the question! Tell me all about the Keys, you lucky girl! And nothing’s new with me. I haven’t sold a house in 6 weeks”, Goosey lamented. Chick told her about the weekend in detail, leaving out the menu incident. “I would move to Key West in a heartbeat if I could sell my house here”, finished up Chick with her tale.

“Sure, Honey, and I’ll bet all you could buy would be a tin tepee smack up next to some old geezer in a trailer park for what you’d get for your sweet little cottage in Melrose. And what about your friends? You may very well need them in your old age. Not that you’re in your old age, or anywhere close to it”, added Goosey quickly, conscious of being a few years younger than Chick.  “Oh, I forgot, there is something new. You know that silly agent over at Century 21? Well, I know you don’t like gossip, but……”. Goosey launched into a long, convoluted story about the exploits of Real Estate Professionals. Chick had to hold the phone away from her ear. I do like a bit of juicy gossip, thought Chick, but gee, let it be about somebody I know!

“I’m beat, Goosey. I’ve got to get to bed”, she finally told her friend after trying to get a word in edgewise several times. “I’ll see you Wednesday at the Cafe”. Chick hung up. Life, she mused.  The mundane daily soap opera struggle of most folks just to keep a roof over their heads and a modicum of sanity in this crazy world. And thank the Goddess I don’t live in China or Burma, or was it not Burma anymore?  I should be grateful for what I have, and I am, she thought. But disaster could strike me at any moment, she reminded herself, pessimist that she was.

Chick had one foot in her jammy bottoms when the phone rang again. Who was calling at nearly 11 o’clock at night? A number she didn’t recognize flashed on the screen. It wouldn’t be a telemarketer at this hour. Intuition told her to pick it up.

“Chick?, it’s Teda Miller, from the coffee shop. Sorry to call so late, but I wanted to get with you as soon as possible. You know I mentioned a trip to Mexico, to San Miguel, in early June? And you had said how much you’d love to go? I’ve just found out that there’s an extra room at the place we’re staying. It wouldn’t cost you anything, except meals, of course.  Didn’t you say you had a credit on Continental? I’ve already checked and there are seats available on our flight. It will be my friend Mary, her daughter Julie, myself, and you, if you want to go. We’d love for you to join us”, said Teda.

How lucky could one chicken be! Chick barely gave it a thought before she said yes. “I haven’t even unpacked from my last trip. But yes, I will join you. Thanks for inviting me,” Chick said warmly.

“I know it’s late, so I’ll fill you in on the details soon, Chick. Nite-Nite”, said Teda.

It never rains but what it pours, thought Chick, though perhaps this old adage no longer held true. It hadn’t rained in months, except for a few pathetic sprinkles.  She felt guilty letting the water run long enough to get it warm. Should she invest in a point of use water heater instead of taking this trip?  Was she becoming too self-indulgent?

“No!” said Chick out loud.”I’m going to Mexico. Good fortune is smiling on me and I’m going to make the most of it!

Next: South Of The Border