Momentarily, a voice came over the intercom.
“All passengers who have been scheduled for Flight 715 your itinerary will depart at Gate 15 at 1 o’clock.”
Then those passengers started lining up at Gate 15. My mother stuck out like a dervish making a cameo appearance; there were business executives in 3-piece suits and conservatively-clad women wearing the latest in female business attire. Yet, my mother had on the most common outfit of all — a comely print dress with a matching sweater and hat. She was the third person in line after responding to the voice over the intercom. The two women in front resembled my mother in mode and dress.
The passengers exited through Gate 15 walking directly to Flight 715 sitting stationary on the tarmac.
My mother was scheduled to see Dr. Timothy McGraw at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the sanitarium in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was a clement fall day in November; the general election was over. Everybody was ecstatic because John F. Kennedy had won. The attitude of the people was happy days are here once again.
Yet, my mother was focused on Aunt Aries’ mental breakdown and forgiving Uncle Charles for what he had done to Aunt Aries.
Once the passengers had boarded the flight, the pilot got situated and aimed the airplane toward the take-off point at the end of the run-way. Suddenly, all the engines started up in unison. The airplane slowly began moving down the run-way.
Momentarily, the airplane gradually began lifting off the ground.
Once the flight was airborne, flight attendants came down the aisle serving cocktails to the passengers. Maggie was seated near the front in the outside seat. An attendant asked, “What would you like?”
Maggie politely declined; and then, she thanked the attendant for the offer.
While the flight attendants were serving the drinks, a voice came over the intercom and made known the flight’s position. The passengers were either savoring their drinks or reading the newspaper . My mother had asked to used the telephone; and then, she stood up and reported where the flight attendant told her to go — to the front. After dialing Dr. McGraw’s telephone number she put the receiver to her ear. Momentarily, she began speaking: “I am enroute for my 3 o’clock appointment; my flight will be arriving shortly, she was looking at her watch. It was 1:30 in the afternoon.
“How is Aries doing?”
“Where are you?” Dr. McGraw asked. “Your sister-In-Law is doing fine. But I must warn you, she’s still very much under distress and I had to let her go.”
My mother remained on the line until she had gotten all the feedback she wanted to hear; and then, she hung up and went back to her seat. She was afraid of what she had heard about her sister-In-law being released from the Sanitarium. “I was afraid of that; that old Aries is coming back,” She invariably thought.
Flight 715 arrived at the Little Rock International Airport, safely, and began gliding down the tarmac until it came to an abrupt stop. Momentarily, a ground crew at the airport maneuvered a stairwell to the opened door so that the passengers could walk down the flight of steps. Maggie was holding her hats pressed to her head as she descended the flight of steps to prevent the wind from blowing it off.
Once on the ground, Maggie began walking with the crowd to the terminal where she could claim her baggage. When Maggie had arrived at the baggage claim area, she waited, momentarily, at the carousel until she saw her suitcase; she grasped it by the handle and lifted it off the carousel. She walked back outside pulling her suitcase and hail a taxi. She got into the vehicle when the taxi driver stepped out to offer assistance. After the taxi driver had gotten back into his taxi, he asks, “Where to?”
“The nearest hotel,” Maggie answers.
Then the taxi driver whisked Maggie out of the airport and arrives pronto at the nearest hotel. He gets out of his taxi and walks around and open the back door where Maggie was seated.
Maggie steps out. “Thank you.”
The taxi driver assisted Maggie with her suitcase; Maggie was walking in front of him. When they had entered the vestibule of the hotel, Maggie turned in arrears and tip the taxi driver. He tipped his hat and thanked Maggie and then he left. Maggie pulled her suitcase to the desk and began checking in:
Once Maggie had signed the register and paid for her room, she looked at the clock on the wall. It was now 2:00 in the afternoon. A bellhop was standing behind her. Maggie took the keys from the clerk and began walking away from the desk; the bellhop grasped the suitcase and began walking behind Maggie.
They arrived at Maggie’s suite in record time, and Maggie turned in arrears and tipped the bellhop. He lifted his cap and left.
Maggie was alone yet she had no time to loose. She had one hour to make her appointment with Dr. McGraw. She had been to Little Rock many times before, and she knew where Dr. McGraw’s office in the Sanitarium was located; and so, there was no problem there. In fact, it was conveniently located near the airport; and so, she did a bit of refreshing up before she left her suite.
Once outside, she hailed what she thought was another taxi; and looked pleasantly surprised when she saw that the driver had waited for her.
“Where to?” The driver asked.
“Do you know where the Sanitarium is?”
“Hop in!”
Maggie obliged him and got into the taxi.
The taxicab sped toward the destination with Maggie inside. It was now 2:30 in the afternoon. Maggie got out and tipped the driver.
She stood on the sidewalk looking up at the 20-story building. She remembered that Dr. McGraw’s office was on the 15th floor. Then she entered the building.
Moments later, Maggie was standing on the Ground floor, reading the directory; and then, she spotted Dr. McGraw’s office. She sighed in relief and got into the elevator and went up to the 15th floor.
Upon coming to the 15th floor, she walked out of the elevator and walked around to a plaque with emboldened words inscribed on it: Dr. Timothy McGraw, PhD, Clinical Psychologist; she entered the office and confronted a scholarly-looking gentleman wearing horn-rimmed glasses. He was standing behind his desk waiting for her.
“My! I must say that you didn’t waste any time,” Dr. McGraw exclaimed.
Maggie walked up to the desk and offered her hand; Dr. McGraw took it. Then they both sat down: Dr. McGraw began briefing Maggie on Aries’ mental state and why she was still distressful. Afterwards, Maggie responded in kind.
“I was afraid that this would happen” Maggie said plaintively, looking directly into Dr. McGraw’s eyes.
Dr. McGraw continued to fill Maggie in on pertinent factors regarding Aries mental health and informing her about Aries’ remarkable progress, which was what Maggie didn’t want to hear: This remarkable progress allowed Aries to sign her own released papers against Maggie’s custodial authority; Aries was no longer a patient at the Sanitarium. Yet, the conversation continued in tranquil spirits. Afterwards, they both stood up and bade each other a good day in a mode of professionalism.
Maggie left Dr. McGraw’s office more despondent than she was upon entering but she did not default. And by the time she had arrived back at the hotel, she was more determine to continue her letter-writing to her sister-In-law. She knew her sister-In-law like a book, she thought, either way you call it, it’s woman’s intuition.
Then she began packing her things in her suitcase; and once she had finished, she closed the suitcase and locked it; and then, she walked out of the hotel. She was surprised when she saw that her driver was still waiting for her.
She entered the taxicab.
The taxicab whisked her back to the airport. Upon getting out of the taxi, Maggie thanked the driver and tipped him.
Then Maggie began walking slowly toward the airport terminal, prepared to leave Little Rock behind.
It is now several weeks later, and Maggie is in more congenial spirits; and so, she strolls leisurely across the living room floor and sits at her writing desk. She places a large ream of paper on the desk and picks up a pen in front of her. She pauses. She notates the letters she has received from Aries since her brief itinerary. Then she begins to write:
Dear Aries,
I must say that it has been awhile since we last communicated via this correspondence; yet, your letter of December 4, was an eye-opening experience. I am glad that you sent it. Yet, I am sorely disappointed in you; why did you leave the sanitarium? I don’t want to pry into your affairs, but leaving the place where you were getting treated for your various phobias is indication to me that something hideous is up your sleeve. Can we meet somewhere and talk over this situation like adults? I will be awaiting your answer in your next letter; until then, try to be more cheerful.
Your sister-In-law,
Maggie
Maggie waited the next several weeks, but she did not hear from Aries. Yet, on a day when she least expected it, a letter arrives in the mail. After laying the bundle of mail on her desk, she began to sort through it. Then she picked up the missive and breathed a sigh of relief. Aries had come through at last.
Yet, Maggie hesitated before opening it. Come on, old girl, have some courage, it is only a letter. She slipped the letter opener under the flap of the envelope and gently pulled it up. Success! Maggie breathed another sigh of relief and slowly reached in and took out the letter.
Maggie begins to read: “I am living in seclusion in a hamlet of a place. You know how I like peace and quiet; a place free from distractions. So, you want to meet up and discussed my situation. How about meeting up in Memphis — at the Peabody Hotel. We could do this before Christmas or we can wait until New Year. I’ll await your response in your next letter . . . your sister-In-law, Aries.”
Aries’ letter had been draining; she had delineated everything that a letter should not be, especially since they both knew Charles. The heading on the letter was an indication that Aries was living somewhere in Tennessee in “a hamlet of a place.” So, meeting up wouldn’t be too infeasible. Maggie notated the date that the meeting should happen: “Perhaps between the holidays since things are so very hectic. But I will have to see whether this date will work for Aries . . .”
Maggie picked up a pen and brought it carefully down upon the ream of paper she had placed on the desk. She begins to write:
Dear Aries,
Your letter found me in warm spirits. And, oh yes, before I forget, I accept your suggestion of meeting on New Year’s Eve. We could talk about old times; and, of course, about Charles.
Maggie’s continued delineating more sober remarks; and finally, she ended it with a congenial warning: “Aries, you haven’t learned anything about life. I hope you don’t take this warning as too brash. Yet, I look forward to seeing you again and to welcome you back to the fold. Until then, take care.
Your sister -In-law,
Maggie
Dear Maggie,
You are such a darling. That is the perfect date and place to hash everything out. I have a lot to get off my chest. Particularly, concerning Charles. You have been to the Peabody before; say, let’s meet near the front entrance where that stature is; you know, the one we both admire. Until then, keep the faith.
Your sister-In-law,
Aries
New Year was a godsend and Maggie stepped out of the house in clothing she had don specifically for the occasion — a gray-flannel pantsuit that fitted her like the professional minded woman she was. She also don her overcoat because of the inclement weather. She got into the car and drove the 70 miles to Memphis, Tennessee. . . parking the vehicle inside the hotel’s parking garage.
It seem moments later, she was standing in the lobby of the hotel. She walks over to the desk clerk standing behind the desk.
“Good evening,” I would like the room number for Aries Sanders.
The desk clerk turn to her computer and call up the resident information. “Yes. She is in Room 5556, 5th floor. The elevator is down the hall to your right. But she is not in at this time; she stepped out; she informed me that she had to run an errand. She should be back shortly.”
Maggie smiled politely to the desk clerk and walked toward the statue at the front entrance of the lobby and waited.
Maggie hadn’t been waiting that long when a light-skinned black woman decked out in a rather flamboyant pantsuit with a matching leather coat walked up to her while she was admiring the stature. Maggie was standing in front of the stature admiring the artistry of the sculpture. “I have always admire this work of art. Such a magnificent piece of sculpture, don’t you think,” Aries said.
“Of course,” Maggie said discretely yet politely.
Both women casually strolled over to where they could be more comfortable in the lounge area. Then they sat down.
“You’re right about one thing; making amends with Charles, that the least I can do. But I need insurance that I can go through with this. That’s why I invited you here.”
“I see.”
For a moment, both women sat quietly looking at one another in a mode of politeness yet reserving judgement of the other. Then, Maggie abruptly spoke, “You haven’t changed a bit, after all these years. But I must admit one thing, you still have that facetious look.”
Aries smiled wrily. “Yes, I do, don’t I?”
It was way past noon, and the two women were still talking. That is, Aries was doing the talking while Maggie was listening. Aries had been saying things about her ex that made Maggie screw-up her eyes in unbelievability. Still, she didn’t interrupt; she sat quietly listening to her sister-In-law talk about her ex-husband.