flight, part 1: eastbound again
laying down tracks on a writer's mixtape
A Cheerio on the floor of the Sky Harbor bathroom stall. A woman with the complicated braids of a dystopian movie appraises herself in the mirror.
Here, everything is loud, political. The Arizona border wall. Ukraine. Cryptocurrency and shootings and shortages. The odorless weight of my fear.
The sassy flight attendant sashaying down the narrow aisle of the regional jet with his biscotti cart and silver earring. Serving lukewarm drinks in plastic cups as thin as baggies. My mask-strapped ears squeezed by an invisible slingshot.
I just want to write in peace with my pen and notebook.
This really captures the tension of the experience - well done!
I *really* admire the level of detail in that flight attendant paragraph. That flight was taken thousands of times, but I love how you put us in that specific instance from that specific pov.
I'm really enjoying catching up on your work. Thank you for sharing!