Page 30 of The Secret to Belonging

completely

alone

EIGHT (ÅTTE)

you tighten the straps on your backpack

and muscle your suitcases through the doors

people move in all directions around you

you are clueless and lost

you want to cry again

finally across the terminal

Rotary-wife Jeanine materializes

surrounded by students and baggage

you drag your suitcases over

she checks your name off her list

and hands you a bundle of paper tickets

in a little cardboard folder

those are for all your connections, she says

you’re changing planes five times

so be sure to keep track of them

she passes out bright green luggage tags

everyone fusses and struggles to attach them

before the ticket agent takes your bags

and hands you your claim slips

(Mom made you pack a toothbrush

and underwear in your backpack

in case your luggage gets lost

you really hope it doesn’t

you feel lost enough already)

you tuck your claim slips into your passport wallet

and stuff it back down the front of your shirt

it chafes against your heart