Cha'Nara's Gift

Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Everything's Coming Up Annie

Emily Continues

Marla really did a nice job with Annie, who was quite taken with the outcome, Her hair now only came down to her shoulders , Marla dyed it blonde, did a wonderful job of make-up on Annie's face, she really made her appearance stand out. Our next stop was Wal-Mart, we selected some nice things for Annie to wear, jeans colorful tops and fashionable boots, surprisingly Annie readily accepted the clothing, something I didn't think she would, in fact she seemed to be really grabbing hard for "the future" Rachel was leery of it, Ben, while interested in certain aspects of it kept his distance as well, he didn't understand it, feared it in some cases, but Annie was really jumping into it, with both feet. I was due for even more of a surprise on our next stop.

As we were coming out of the Wal-Mart, Annie happened to look up and spot an airplane coming in for a landing at the local airport. She stood there transfixed, causing people to also look up wondering what she was gawking at. Annie pointed at the airplane as it disappeared from view, "You told me what those things were, but I forgot," "It's called an airplane, Annie, that is a small one, wait until you see the really big ones, that can carry a couple hundred people." That thought just did not register with her, "Where did it go?" said Annie, a little sadness in her voice.

"Probably landed at the airport, why, do you want to go see the planes over there?" "Could we, I mean if it is not very much trouble," "No trouble, the airport isn't very far. With that, I drove over to the city airport and parked in the parking lot. We walked over to the fence and looked around for any airplanes, we were in luck, somebody was getting ready to take off in a twin engine Beech craft. Annie just stood there totally transfixed by something people of her day were always attempting but never achieved. The plane slowly taxied down to the end of the runway, and started increasing power in preparation for take-off. "What's all the noise?" asked Annie as she covered her ears, "He's getting ready to take off, watch carefully, the airplane must have received clearance to take off because he started rolling down the runway, faster and faster, until his wheels suddenly left the ground and he was airborne. Higher and higher he went, the wheels retracting as the plane started to level out. Annie just stood there and watched until the plane was completely out of sight.

I saw no other activity going on so I said, "It's pretty cold out here Annie, I don't see any other planes getting ready to do anything, we might as well leave. Annie turned and looked at me very intently, "Is it possible to fly in an airplane?" "What! You want to go for an airplane ride?" Annie thought for a moment, "Yes, yes I would!" she said. "Boy! Annie, you really do want to "jump" right in, don't you?" "Annie suddenly took on a serious look, "Yes, yes I do Emily, would it be possible for me to fly?" This was really blowing my mind, "Let's go check in at the office over there."

We trudged through the snow to the airport office, and I spoke to a man behind a counter. "Ah, Sir, my friend here wants to go for an airplane ride, is there anybody around here able to take her up?" The man thought for a minute, "Check over at the Cessna flight center, they give flying lessons over there, but someone might be willing to take her up, it will probably cost you though." "No problem, Thanks," We then got back in the truck and drove to the Cessna flight center. "Would it be possible for anyone here to take my friend here up for a ride?" A woman came over and introduced herself as Clair Taylor, "We don't usually just take people up, but we've got a special deal where you sign up for a flying lesson and you get a ride out of it, $175.00 though." "Deal" I said, "Annie it looks like you're going to get to go up, even get a flying lesson. Annie couldn't believe her luck, the flying lesson was icing on the cake, I signed her up (using my folks address)

She spent an hour with the instructor who went over the basics of flying, causing me to wonder whether she understood any of this, but before we knew it, Annie and the instructor started heading out to a small Cessna parked nearby. I watched from inside the office as the instructor went over the controls and instrumentation with her, I doubted Annie had the foggiest idea of what the woman was showing her, and I secretly prayed she didn't freak out once airborne but in no time, the planes motor coughed to life the instructor let it warm for a few minutes, slowly they taxied over to the runway, hesitated for a few minutes, then proceeded to pick up speed , then suddenly they were airborne, Annie just became the first woman to fly.

I sure hoped Annie was keeping her "cool." I stepped outside to watch the small plane climb to altitude and begun a slow turn, they were up around 15,000 feet. I was simply stunned and amazed at my Annie, I had begun to "groom" her for taking over the "Bad Girls Saloon" after Deak and I left for good, and I chose her for the fact that she, along with Rachel, had a little more "on the ball" a little more spark, guess I was right. About ten minutes later, they were descending for a landing; the plane made a smooth landing and slowly taxied back to the flight center. I watched as Annie and the instructor walked around the airplane again, the instructor pointing out things, then head my way. Annie had a big grin on her face the instructor did too, so apparently Annie didn't do anything to get them killed. The instructor waved at Annie as they parted, "I hope you decide to continue Annie, I look forward to teaching you to fly." Annie waved back "Thank you, I would love to," said Annie as she came my way.

"So how was it?" Annie looked at me and smiled, "Emily, I would love more than anything in this world to learn to fly, there is so much I do not understand about it, but I am doing as you suggested, "jumping in" with both feet. I felt so alive up there I am the first woman of my time to see what the birds see." She continued to go on and on about her experience. "Annie, let's stop and get a drink, I think we need to talk." "Pat's Lounge" was our destination, we took seats at one of the booths and I suggested to Annie she try a margarita, I decided on a Bacardi (being influenced by the Matchbox 20 song "She's so mean") Annie settled for a peach margarita, "Be careful Annie, those things are deadly, they'll put you on your ass if you're not careful," I chuckled. "So you really enjoyed your airplane ride eh!" "Oh yes!" she said, "I was scared at first, but then I kept thinking, the instructor wasn't scared, everything was apparently normal, I remembered what you said, if nobody seems worried or upset, things must be fine, just roll with it. I smiled at her, "You were wise to take my advice Annie, but since you'll be going back to your own time soon taking flying lessons would be an expensive waste."

Annie took a sip of her drink then looked me in the eye "Emily, I was wondering, what if I could stay here?" Wow! Another "bombshell" "Stay here? As in stay here in the 21st century to live and never return to 1879," "Yes." I had to think about this, Deak and I brought Rachel Ben and Annie to our time as more of an effort on our part to get a reaction from 19th century people over their impressions of the 21st century, it never occurred to me that someone might actually want to stay. "Well Annie, I'll have to think about that, you have to understand, nowadays everyone's "nailed down" so to speak, we would have to get you a social security card, drivers license, something with your photo on it anyway, and a birth certificate and not one showing your year of birth as 1856, it would be an expensive undertaking, but if illegal aliens can get "papers" I guess you can too. Thing is Annie, you'd be making a big commitment, Things here aren't always as magical as they might seem at first, there is a lot of ugliness in this modern world, and if you make that decision, there's no going back, you're here to stay…For better or worse, are you prepared to make that kind of commitment?" "I-I-I think so," she said. I bent closer to her over the table, keeping my voice low, "There's no "think so" about it Annie, "You're either in or out, tell you what, you think about it, be honest with yourself, weigh the pro's and con's, ask all the questions you want, we all have to return to 1879 this time, but when I tell you we're leaving for the last time that we're leaving for good, it will be "fish or cut bait" time "s**t or get off the pot" if you decide to return with us, that's it, you're here for good, how's that sound?"

Annie thought to herself for a few moments, then looked me in the eye, "Yes, that will be acceptable," she slowly said. "Done and done" I replied, "So what do you think of your drink there?" Annie took another sip and said, "Very different, what is in it?" I took a sip and said, "Tequila, and fruit flavors mostly," "Maybe we should serve these in the "Bad Girls" she opined. "Naw, you need ice, and the flavorings simply aren't available in 1879. It would be too much of a hassle, besides, couldn't you see a bunch of grizzled miners standing at the bar guzzling strawberry margarita's." Both of us started laughing at the thought. "But you have given me an idea though Annie, they make pre-mixes you just add to the liquor, they're not as good as one made by a good bartender but I'll be sure to bring a supply back for us girls anyway." Annie thought that would be nice, she then noticed a guy staring at us.

The guy was sitting at the end of the bar, which gave him the right angle to watch us, while pretending he wasn't. Both of us started doing the same, smiling to ourselves finally I said to Annie, "Still think you've got what it takes, even after one hundred and thirty-three years," Annie giggled. "Annie dear, be very careful, he could be a cop, and things you get away with at the "Bad Girls" can get you thrown in the slammer real quick nowadays." Continuing to snicker and smile, Annie said, "I'm curious to see if my 19th century ways will still work on 21st century men, besides, I'm interested to find out what men are thinking these days." "Be careful on that account Annie, he might bring things up you know nothing about," "Don't worry I will." With that, Annie got up and slowly walked over to the bar, and sat down next to the cute guy. I could see them chatting the bartender bring two drinks over to them, all I could do was shake my head, Annie was sure an operator, Deak was going to be amazed when I tell him what Annie's been up to today.

Annie and her new "friend" sat and talked for almost a half an hour, in the meantime, I ordered another Bacardi. Finally, Annie came strolling back to our table, and I noticed her young man paying his tab and leaving, she sat down with a puzzled look on her face. "So what happened?" I asked, Annie just shook her head, "Basically he asked me to do for free what I charge for in Deakstown, he used some terms I wasn't familiar with, but probably just new words for things I know by other names. You were right, he started talking about musical performers and sports teams I didn't know anything about, he was very nice and intelligent, certainly a vast difference from the miners and drummers I get at "Bad Girls." but I noticed something else, he didn't stink, I am to believe the men in this century bath more often?" "Oh yes," I replied, "Being clean is extremely important, don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, deodorants, scented soaps, no smell of unwashed bodies around here," I chuckled. "Oh yes, I believe he was married as well," added Annie.

"How could you tell?" I inquired," "Because I could tell he had taken his ring off, and the fact that he wanted to go out to his automobile rather than go to his home." Annie suddenly looked very studious, and asked me, "I am puzzled by the fact that if the women and girls of today behave the way you say they do, then why would men still need our "services"? You know as well as I do, the men who come into the "Bad Girls" are lonely miners in need of female "companionship" but also married men whose wives are afraid to enjoy a good poke. According to you, having fun in bed is the main preoccupation of everybody." "That's true Annie, but it's just something you have to draw your own conclusions on." Annie just shook her head and sighed. I looked at my watch and said, "It's getting late, we'd better be heading home," I paid our tab and we made for the truck. It was snowing when we stepped outside, the wind had also started to pick up as well, driving home was slower than usual, because of the blowing snow. "Oh this is so nice!" said Annie; here we are all nice and warm inside this machine, ah! Truck, as you call it, while it snows and blows outside." "It sure doesn't look like the state has done any plowing yet," I complained, Annie started to look pretty apprehensive looking out the window, "This is getting to be very worrisome" she said, "There's nothing to stop the snow around here, it's all flat," I said, just then I saw flashing yellow lights ahead, "About damn time!" I said, "What are those strange flashing lights?" asked Annie. "It's a state highway plow truck, trying to keep the road plowed." I got up behind it but kept my distance, for the snow swirling around behind it. Thankfully, we were near our turn. Finally, I was able to turn, now the road got worse so I switched into four-wheel drive cutting through the piling snow, dropping my speed even further. The road was becoming harder to spot the pavement edges, I looked at Annie, "Aren't you glad you're riding in a warm truck, back in you're time people would get caught out in storms like this, and die." Annie nodded in agreement, "I've heard of people who died that way, when I was younger, I knew another girl who's cousins tried making it across Utah Territory in weather like this, no one ever heard from them again." The ranch soon appeared through the blizzard, we parked near the house, and ran for the back door, we stomped the snow off us, Mom was preparing supper, Deak was sitting at the table talking to dad.