The last word came out as a squeaky half-whisper; I was in great danger of falling over the edge into tears. I tried to hide my face from Alfred as he looked up at me again, but he could tell, anyway.
"Hey," he said, "hey, it's alright. Come here."
He put his arms around me and let my head rest on his shoulder, smoothing his hand over my back as I fought back needless tears.
"You're still in America, honey," he said. "It's okay to cry."
That did it. I held my country close for the last time in a long while, sobbing softly into his shoulder. I breathed in the scent of his jacket, and it smelled like the morning air after a good rainstorm, and the mossy humidity of my grandparents' home in Savannah, and the salty beaches in Boca Raton, and the adrenaline-charged week I spent in LA, and the inside of the Sheraton hotel in Dallas where I'd spent the best days of my life at conventions...
"I'm gonna miss you, too," Alfred said. "I'm gonna miss all of you. I hate seeing people leave. But sometimes, you've gotta do what's right for you. I know that whatever happens, you'll do what's right for you."
I just stood there for a few moments, slowly letting go of my homeland. After a minute, I heard a voice over the intercom call out our flight number and my boarding group.
I took a very deep breath. Then another. Then two more. After about six, I stood up straight and let Alfred go. My tears didn't seem to have had any effect on his jacket, oddly enough. After a gigantic sniff, I put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll be back for Christmas," I said. "Stay awesome."
"You know I will!" Alfred grinned.
I tilted my own rectangular glasses in reference to his.
"Keep Dallas safe for me when I get back."
"Will do!" He gave a small salute.
I raised my hand to meet his in a parting high-five. He called out to me as I got in line with the rest of my boarding group.
"Oh, and tell Honda I said hi!"
I nodded brightly, scanned my boarding pass, and stepped onto the ramp that would lead to a whole new chapter in my life.
--End--
This anon is in the process of going to Japan next year in order to study abroad. She also intends to teach English there upon graduating from college. She is from Dallas, and for some reason she gets a real kick out of Alfred's glasses being Texas. She is also really sorry if this is too sappy or whatever. It's late over here.
this was really quite adorable, and I love your characterization of Alfred
I've only ever thought of immigration, a la history class, never what happens when people leave America. And I imagine the real America might feel something similar to what you've written.
I'm also amused that your list is half junk food. I'm sure my list would be ridiculously similar.
So saaaaaad... But I understand! I actually am in a similar situation where I would LOVE to live in another country, but I would miss America way too much. I'm going to try out the study abroad program for about a month next summer, maybe go to Spain! OP WISHES YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN JAPAN! (and greatly admires your courage! O_o)
Oh, I'm so glad you liked it! It was different, I know, but I was hoping you'd enjoy it. Sorry about the broken heart, but...well, mine's in need of repair after writing it. XD
Ah, anon has always had a sort of inborn wanderlust that the rest of her family was not near so...gifted with. My roommate said she might go to Spain one summer. One month, though, just wouldn't be enough for me. (And thank you! I've been called many things because of this, but brave has not been one of them...)
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Re: Farewell, At Least for Now, Part 2
(Anonymous) 2009-03-06 06:00 am (UTC)(link)"Hey," he said, "hey, it's alright. Come here."
He put his arms around me and let my head rest on his shoulder, smoothing his hand over my back as I fought back needless tears.
"You're still in America, honey," he said. "It's okay to cry."
That did it. I held my country close for the last time in a long while, sobbing softly into his shoulder. I breathed in the scent of his jacket, and it smelled like the morning air after a good rainstorm, and the mossy humidity of my grandparents' home in Savannah, and the salty beaches in Boca Raton, and the adrenaline-charged week I spent in LA, and the inside of the Sheraton hotel in Dallas where I'd spent the best days of my life at conventions...
"I'm gonna miss you, too," Alfred said. "I'm gonna miss all of you. I hate seeing people leave. But sometimes, you've gotta do what's right for you. I know that whatever happens, you'll do what's right for you."
I just stood there for a few moments, slowly letting go of my homeland. After a minute, I heard a voice over the intercom call out our flight number and my boarding group.
I took a very deep breath. Then another. Then two more. After about six, I stood up straight and let Alfred go. My tears didn't seem to have had any effect on his jacket, oddly enough. After a gigantic sniff, I put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll be back for Christmas," I said. "Stay awesome."
"You know I will!" Alfred grinned.
I tilted my own rectangular glasses in reference to his.
"Keep Dallas safe for me when I get back."
"Will do!" He gave a small salute.
I raised my hand to meet his in a parting high-five. He called out to me as I got in line with the rest of my boarding group.
"Oh, and tell Honda I said hi!"
I nodded brightly, scanned my boarding pass, and stepped onto the ramp that would lead to a whole new chapter in my life.
--End--
This anon is in the process of going to Japan next year in order to study abroad. She also intends to teach English there upon graduating from college. She is from Dallas, and for some reason she gets a real kick out of Alfred's glasses being Texas. She is also really sorry if this is too sappy or whatever. It's late over here.
Re: Farewell, At Least for Now, Part 2
(Anonymous) 2009-03-06 06:10 am (UTC)(link)Re: Farewell, At Least for Now, Part 2
(Anonymous) 2009-03-07 04:44 am (UTC)(link)I've only ever thought of immigration, a la history class, never what happens when people leave America. And I imagine the real America might feel something similar to what you've written.
I'm also amused that your list is half junk food. I'm sure my list would be ridiculously similar.
Re: Farewell, At Least for Now, Part 2
(Anonymous) 2009-03-08 06:06 am (UTC)(link)i actually cried...(GOD I'M SUCH A SAPPY ANON)
Re: Farewell, At Least for Now, Part 2
(Anonymous) 2009-03-10 02:30 am (UTC)(link)Re: OP
(Anonymous) 2009-03-09 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)So saaaaaad... But I understand! I actually am in a similar situation where I would LOVE to live in another country, but I would miss America way too much. I'm going to try out the study abroad program for about a month next summer, maybe go to Spain! OP WISHES YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN JAPAN! (and greatly admires your courage! O_o)
Thank you for the fill~!
Re: OP
(Anonymous) 2009-03-10 02:33 am (UTC)(link)Ah, anon has always had a sort of inborn wanderlust that the rest of her family was not near so...gifted with. My roommate said she might go to Spain one summer. One month, though, just wouldn't be enough for me. (And thank you! I've been called many things because of this, but brave has not been one of them...)