Flights
07/15/2025
By Joy Lynn Clark
I had just quit my job at a software company to do freelance work when my stepmother called. “I have great news!” she announces. “We are going to Europe to visit your brother on base.” She adds. “Europe? I thought that he was in Texas.” I comment. “He is actually in Europe so get your passport and start packing.” My stepmom says.
After I hung up the phone I sigh as I realize that I am going to have to, “resume download” for this huge presentation that I am working on. Seems easy enough but it is barely the year 2000 and I have a dial up internet connection and a landline phone so when people call I have to, “pause download”. I was frustrated because I had convinced my new client to let me do the presentation at home and telecommute for this contract but the way I am struggling with this download I am going to have to do the work in the client’s office. That same evening I left my apartment for the night school classes that I am taking in production.
Despite my technology issues, I was really excited about my first trip overseas. With only a couple of weeks to go before we depart, my stepmother telephones me to confirm our itinerary. “Now let’s go over the flight information, you can write this down. Chicago to Atlanta then Atlanta to Heathrow.” She adds. “Hold up,” I question, “Can’t we just fly to Heathhrow from Ohare?” I ask suspiciously. “Well that was the only flight that I could get” my stepmother quickly adds. “Besides we will have some time to grab lunch in Atlanta.” She quickly adds and is trying to the change the subject. I won’t be moved, “I find it hard to believe that you could not find a single direct flight to Heathrow from Ohare.” I insist. “Don’t worry Mom’s got it all under control” my stepmother points out in her sweet-yet-I-am on top of things voice.
Time passes and it is finally time to depart for the trip. I take the train to O’hare where I meet with my stepmother who just jumped out of a limo. “Nice” I add not sure what to think but I am definitly gonna enjoy this ride (wherever this takes us). We board our plane in Chicago and quickly land in Atlanta. As we leave this airport we jump into our limo. “Wow, this is so nice” I remark. My stepmother lets me know that the limo was the only transport that she was able to book somehow (this is all so nice but since we are just middle class I am starting to wonder about all of this, “splurging”. However, I do like the finer things so I quit my fussing and decided to sit back and enjoy. “So where are we going?” I ask. “We are going to have lunch with my aunt from Marietta” She explains.
As our limo gets off of the highway by the Marietta exit I let out a sigh of longing when I realize that I am not going to get to see the inner city of Atlanta. This suburban neighborhood reminds me of our town in Illinois that I grew up in but it is a little nicer. As we approach this person’s home I think that they have a really nice craftsman style house. As soon as my, “quote un quote AUNT answers the door I am like, Auntie”.
Once again, all of this looks suspicious. This woman looks like me, not my stepmother. I felt strange as if I am staring at myself but somehow this is my stepmother’s relative. “Let me give you all the grand tour”, we take off our shoes and go upstairs first and then we come back down. I was hoping that we were going to go out to lunch somewhere in town but she had something that she had ordered from a restaurant all set up for us. “So tell me about yourself, Joy” she questions. I tell her about my freelance work, my website, and my music.” This lady looks at me so intently that it was almost as if she could see inside me. It is so hard for me to get over the resemblance.
This new, “Auntie” had a nice lunch spread set up in a bright and sunny sitting room. We ate and chatted about our lives. My stepmother also tells her a little bit about my stepbrother whom we are about to visit. As we conclude our lunch my stepmother offers our help and we all carry our plates and serving dishes into her very massive kitchen. As the three of us are standing there, My aunt offers us champagne and coffee. My stepmom and I both decide to have champagne since we are going to be on a long flight.
After our toast, my stepmother gently places her hand on my shoulder. “This is YOUR aunt, Joy”. She says. The resemblance was so uncanny that I was not at all surprised but I suddenly couldn’t figure out why she had brought me here. I also was really impressed by my new Aunt’s house and I had to ask. “So what do you do?” I ask new Auntie. “My husband is a commercial pilot and my children are away at school”. That’s awesome I say. “It’s a pity we didn’t come at a time where we could meet them too.” The three of us exchanged hugs and we hopped back into the limo to go to Europe.
That was so awkward and I couldn’t believe that my stepmother brought me to meet a relative of mine without my mom or dad. However, I drink more champagne on the flight and try to sleep. Our 8 hour journey was decent and I am having lots of thoughts about getting over the, “jet lag”. I’ve never even been on a flight this long so I am curious.
“Welcome to Heathrow” my stepmother tries to say with a fake British accent. We fly through customs and see my brother in the terminal. No more limos, my brother is here in a car to pick us up. I get a quick look at London before we get on the highway to take our journey to a small town that is not far from where my brother is stationed.
