Home Alone by Todd Strasser & John Hughes

Author:Todd Strasser & John Hughes [Strasser, Todd & Hughes, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780590446686
Amazon: 0590446681
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Published: 1991-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

December 23

Orly Airport

8:30 P.M. (Paris Time)

Kate had put herself on standby for no less than fifteen flights back to the States and hadn't come close to getting on any of them. She couldn't stop thinking of Kevin, alone, frightened, helpless in that house. What a terrifying experience for a seven-year-old. It was probably doing irreversible psychological damage to him. She imagined coming home and finding him curled up in a corner sucking his thumb.

Kate was starting to feel desperate. And that meant taking desperate action. A flight to Chicago was scheduled to leave in half an hour. The waiting list was so long the airline wouldn't even let her put her name on it. But there were other ways to get on board.

Kate spotted a plump middle-aged woman carrying a heavy handbag and wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball cap. The woman was headed for the Chicago departure gate . . . until Kate stepped in her way.

"Excuse me," Kate said. "I must get on that flight to Chicago, but there's no room. So here's my offer. I have five hundred dollars, a pocket translator, and two first-class tickets for a flight leaving next week. I'll trade it all for your coach ticket."

The woman stopped and thought. She was looking at Kate's wristwatch.

"Is that a real Rolex?" the woman asked.

"Yes." Kate held up the watch. "See how the second hand sweeps instead of ticking to each second? That's how you can tell."

The woman nodded. "What else you got?"

"Well." Kate thought fast and then started pulling her jewelry off. "I've got this gold necklace, bracelet, and sapphire ring."

"That is a nice ring," the woman said. Kate felt encouraged. The woman actually seemed interested. Then a portly man wearing a hearing aid and a Chicago White Sox Cap came by.

"Come on, Irene," the man said. "They're gonna board soon."

"Wait, Ed," Irene said. "This woman's offering us two first-class tickets to Chicago for next week, plus a ring, a pocket translator, five hdndred dollars, and—"

"I'll throw in the Samsonite luggage," Kate offered eagerly.

Ed took off his cap and scratched his head. "It's a nice offer, but what about our Christmas plans?"

"Don't forget the bracelet," Kate said.

"I didn't care for the bracelet," said Irene. Kate showed it to Ed in case he liked it. She was so close! She couldn't let them slip through her fingers now.

"Naw, I don't like the bracelet, either," Ed said. He started to pull Irene away. "Thanks, anyway."

"But the ring!" Kate said, following them. "You liked the ring, ma'am."

"She's got plenty of rings," Ed said, pulling his wife harder. "Now come on, Irene. Let's go!"

"Wait? Kate begged. "Please . . . my little boy's home all by himself. I'm desperate. I beg you. From a mother to a mother. Please?"

"Ed?" Irene was wavering. She looked back at her husband.

Ed tapped his ear. "Say what? Darn hearing aid went out. Come on, honey." He yanked her away.

Kate stood in the middle of the gate area as passengers rushed past her to board the plane.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.