ANA Reborn by Carl Facciponte - HTML preview
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Chapter 38
hey have been sleeping since we took off. Do T“ you think they are all right?" the flight attendant asked another, motioning toward Ana and Rhett's sleeping figures? "It's an eleven-hour flight. They've been asleep the whole time."
The second attendant looked at them for a moment. "I'm sure they are just exhausted. They look like they're still breathing. They must be okay." Both nodded and continued serving drinks and peanuts.
The flight from Istanbul to New York City JFK
Airport Terminal One was uneventful. Ana and Rhett yawned and stretched as the pilot made the landing announcements.
"See, as I said, they were just tired," the first attendant said to the other.
The plane landed with minimal bouncing. The
'Fasten Seat Belts' sign went out as soon as it reached the terminal. Virtually everyone in the 297
plane stood in unison to retrieve their carry-on bags from the overhead compartments.
Rhett leaned towards Ana in her seat. "See, that's exactly what I mean about humans being so illogical. We just stopped, and there are approximately 150 passengers ahead of us standing in the aisle. Everyone around us is standing, fussing with their bags, but not able to move a single step for the next six minutes. So why not just sit still until it's your turn to deplane? It doesn't make sense."
"Good point, but maybe they are just eager to be back home."
"No, they are just illogical beings. It makes me glad we are as we are, Ana."
"Let's talk about it later," she whispered in his ear. He smiled.
"Can you whisper in my ear again? It kind of turns me on."
"Idiot!" Ana said with affection.
"You know what I mean."
"Shut up. It's getting to be our turn to get off."
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"You know, I was sort of getting to that..." He never finished the thought. A steel-hard finger poked him in the side.
"Slush! Later," came the promise. Rhett smiled.
The shuttle in the terminal brought them to their baggage claim carousel, where they watched people jamming around the baggage transport, hoping their bags would be the first to be unloaded.
"See, that's what I'm talking about," said Rhett." It would all go much smoother if people stood back six feet or so and stepped up to the transport when they saw their bag coming. As it is, people can't even see their bag to identify it until it's just about on them."
Ana smiled at him." Just relax. You don't have to be a process improvement guy all of the time.
Customs is next."
The customs line was long but moved quickly.
Agents assisted people to their appropriate line, depending on if they were U.S. citizens or international visitors.
The early middle-aged agent asked Ana and Rhett to come up as a couple to save time. He 299
inspected their papers and asked where they were coming from.
"Afghanistan," Rhett answered. We are Army on leave.
The agent looked at them carefully. "Where were you in Afghanistan?"
“Lakash Gar,” Ana answered.
"I was there with the Marines quite a few years ago," the agent said. "That was before they downsized the base. What province was that in?"
he asked to verify their story.
"That was in Helmand Province," Ana replied.
"Correct. Thank you for your service to this country. Enjoy your time off. Come on through,"
the agent said with a thankful and proud smile.
"and Sergeants, welcome back."
They exited into the public side of the airport and rented a car.
"So, shall we stay in the city for the night? I wouldn't mind dancing a little before we move on," Ana asked.
Rhett shook his head. "I'm pretty excited about the next steps and would like to at least get out of 300
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The City for the night. Would that be okay with you, Ana?"
"Sure thing," she responded. "I guess there is a minuscule chance that we would run into someone we knew if we stay in New York. It would look a little suspicious if people who were supposed to be dead were seen out clubbing. Oh well. Let's head upstate a little ways."
"Let's shoot up to Kingston for a week. It's about two hours north on Rt. 87, and unlikely anyone we know would be in the area. We can stay at The Stables. It's small, quaint, and very private." Rhett put his right hand on Ana's thigh as he spoke. She squeezed his hand with her legs in reply.
"I like the private idea," she said.
Rhett accelerated to a constant sixty-nine miles-per-hour to cut the drive time to privacy.
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