Howie, AJ, Kevin, Nick, and Brian loaded onto the plane in single file. They plopped into their designated seats and waved out the window to Brianna and Meiry. Brianna waved back while tears streamed down Meiry's cheeks. The tears weren't teenie-bopperish. They were worry tears. Worry for AJ.
The plane took off after the one of the attendants yapped about how important wearing your seatbelt was. AJ leaned his head against the window.
Good-bye New York, his mind whispered.
Kevin itched to pick up his duffle bag and pull out his journal and write away. It had been two days since he'd written. Instead, he reached for his duffle and pulled out his discman. He lifted the lid and smiled at the Jewel cd that was inside. He shut the lid and pushed play.
His hands lingered inside the bag and he touched the hard cover of his journal. He pulled his hand away like he had just touched a hot stove burner. Moments later his hand was back on it, touched the cover like women do with their new-born baby's fingers, tenderly touching the softness of their angels, their creations. He sighed and removed his hand again, to a different spot in the bag. He pulled out what he had touched.
A feather he'd picked up in the NYC, in one of the small parks. He touched the softness and smiled. He was the mother of the feather and nothing would break this euphoria, not this time.
Chapter 19
