Packing

Assignment from poetry workshop: write a scene involving packing.

The Packing

"No warnings, Sam?"

Her red plaid suitcase lay open on the bed. He watched her pack, sitting on the side of the bed. She opened and slammed drawers, tossing her last items in the bag. She was leaving on a week-long business trip to England.

"No warnings, Sam? No grim tidings or is that second sight of yours on the blink? Isn't this the time when you tell me not to get on the plane because you have a bad feeling about it?"

Sam shook his head. "You'd just laugh at me," he said. "I guess my latest predictions haven't panned out."

She laughed, perhaps a little too loud. Sam frowned but said nothing. "Well, you really missed the ball with that stock market tip that came to you in a dream. And what about that million-dollar lottery ticket you promised me?" she asked him.

Sam smiled faintly. "Someday. Send me an email when you get there so I know you're safe."

"Sure." Outside a taxi horn was blaring. She zipped the case shut, and he carried it to the car. They kissed goodbye and he waved as she disappeared around the corner.

Same came in and sat quietly on the couch for awhile. He pictured her standing in the long line at the counter to drop off her bag. Then he saw her pushing her way through the long security line, getting her shoes and coat x-rayed. Finally he imagined her settled in her first class seat with her ear phones plugged in, the dinner menu selected, and the blanket pulled comfortably over her knees.

That's all he could bring himself to think about. As a distraction he turned on the Sunday football game. Then came the announcement at the bottom of the program and Sam sat up stiffly. Flight 792 to England had crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after take off. All four passengers and crew were dead.

Sam took the news calmly. He wasn't one to say I told you so. Instead, he reached into his wallet and pulled out the million-dollar lottery ticket he had purchased last week and laid it on the coffee table next to the million-dollar life insurance policy he had gotten some time ago on his wife. Somewhere a phone was ringing. He took his time answering.