***
The plane soared upwards as it approached the end of the runway. It circled over the landing strip, gaining altitude, glinting silver in the morning sun. The sound of its engines faded as it went higher. The pilot dipped the wings once as if to say good-bye and then aimed westwards. Claudia watched it go, carrying Maria and Cynthia back home, and she fought back tears. Sam stood next to her, his arm around her waist, waving his hat long after anyone in the plane could have seen him. As the plane dwindled to invisibility, he put his hat back on.
What now, Red? he asked, still looking in the direction the plane had gone. You said you had a lot of thinkin to do.
I did, she nodded. She scuffed at the gravelly dirt with the heel of her fake-snakeskin boots. And Ive done it.
A
