“Hurry up! Grab your suitcase! Don’t forget the one by the bed!” Anne shouted to her son Martin.

“I can’t find my charger,” Martin whined.

“Chargers are cheap, don’t worry. We’re going to miss our flight!” Anne grabbed her rolling bag and ushered Martin out of the hotel room.

“I’m hungry, are we going to be able to eat on the plane again like last time? I want one of their turkey sandwiches. With a pickle! Can I get a soda?”

“Of course, hun. But only one. I don’t want you to have to get up all throughout the flight having to use the restroom. It’s an 8 hour trip. We’re going to want to get comfortable.”

Anne and Martin rushed to the front counter where a plump little lady stood. Round glasses that were too big for her face rested on her nose. She was buried in the computer in front of her, diligently typing away.

“Hello, we’re checking out. Parsons, room 420.” Anne said, pulling her wallet out of her purse. She put it down on the counter.

The woman raised her eyebrows but didn’t look up from the computer. Supposing this was a sign of acknowledgement, Anne waited a couple of seconds.

“I’d just like to return our keys, if that’s alright.”

The woman pressed a few buttons with the mouse, then looked up from her glasses, without moving her head.

“How many keys?” she uttered curtly.

“Two.” Anne placed the key cards down in front of the woman.

“One moment.” She looked back to the screen.

Anne looked at her watch. They still had to hail a cab, get to the airport, check their bags, go through security, and find their terminal. All in the span of less than two hours. The airport alone was 45 minutes away, at least that’s what Anne’s phone had told her when she checked last night before forgetting to set her alarm and waking up late in utter panic.

Anne knew it was her fault for them being behind, but she couldn’t help becoming irritated at how long the stout woman was taking, and how little she cared about them or whether they might be in a rush or not.

“And that’ll all get charged to the card I put down at check in correct?” Anne urged, hoping this would speed up the process so that she could just head out now.

“One moment,” the woman repeated.

Anne couldn’t help herself, “I’m sorry ma’am. We’re in a little bit of a rush, what else do you need from me?”

The woman huffed muttering something about Americans under her breath. That was uncalled for, thought Anne, but didn’t say anything.

“Your keys have been received. Our machine is printing your receipt now. Again, one moment and you’ll be on your way.” She glanced at their bags. “I don’t suppose you’ll need a trolly for your bags.”

“No, thank you, we’re alright.” Anne glanced at her watch again then down at Martin. He was sitting on his rolling bag playing with an action figure he had grabbed from his backpack.

“There you are. Thank you for staying with us.”

Before Anne could respond, the woman instantly turned around and walked to the back room. Anne let the rudeness pass and quickly grabbed her rolling suitcase and Martin’s free hand and pulled him along to the large rustic door of the hotel. It felt heavy pushing it, but it could have been from the wind, which she was greeted by with a swift gust. She grabbed at her coat which swayed in the wind and saw Martin sidestep to stop himself from falling over.

She hailed a cab and they rushed to put their belongings in the trunk before hopping in together and cuddling up for warmth. Anne hadn’t realized how cold it would be outside. This was Europe in the winter after all. Her and Martin were used to the sunny days of Florida and the humidity that hung in the air with an awful pungency reserved for the summers. She didn’t miss it there. Now that the divorce with her husband was finalized and they didn’t have to stay in Florida for his job anymore, she was prepared to move up the coast to somewhere in the New England area. She had always loved visiting there as a child. The history, the sights, the weather. It was really why she liked Europe so much as well. She was thrilled to have given Martin the chance to come out here and see it for himself.

She glanced down at him, watching him silently as he stared out the cab window, looking at the sites one final time. At the people walking their dogs, laughing amongst friends, rushing to work, shopping. She knew he needed this break from reality as much as she did. She squeezed him gently against her.

“Mom, why don’t we live here?” Martin asked, not looking away from the road.

“We’ll live somewhere similar soon. Then we can come here and visit as often as we can.”

“Promise?” He turned to look at her with his big brown eyes.

“Promise.” She kissed his forehead. He smiled and turned away again, new excitement written across his face.

The cab pulled up to the airport and Anne checked her watch. They had about 45 minutes and still had to go through all the checks. She grabbed the last of her cash from her pocket and handed it to the driver. They gathered their bags and hand in hand raced inside.

After checking their bags at the self check and printing their tickets they wasted no time in rushing to find their gate.

They had to pass through customs first, but that wouldn’t take long. They hadn’t bought any souvenirs, just taken photos, and their bags were already checked.

As they wove through the line, time ticking away, they approached the agent who asked them for their tickets and passports.

“Absolutely, one second,” Anne reached into her purse. Her heart dropped. She didn’t keep much in her purse, some gum, tissues, pens, a notepad, and….her wallet. It was obviously absent. She thought quickly, if she left it in her suitcase, or if she took it out in the cab.

“Ma’am I need your passport,” the gentlemen said, rather sternly.

“Yes, of course, I just seem to have misplaced it,” she almost whispered.

“Please step aside while you search,” he said and ushered her to his side.

Other passengers started to walk up to him and hand their identification over as well as their tickets. They walked right through towards their flights, that would surely not take off without them.

‘Oh god, why? This is awful!’ Anne thought, fruitlessly searching her purse. She could feel the sweat forming on her body. She looked at her watch again 10 minutes. She thought and thought again. What could she do? They wouldn’t be able to leave the country. They were going to miss their flight. They wouldn’t be able to buy another ticket, they wouldn’t be able to get a hotel.

“Well honey, maybe we will be living here after all,” Anne joked.

“What do you mean?” Martin asked confused, not understanding. “What about all of our stuff at home?”

“It was a joke sweetie. I just can’t find our passports.” Anne looked defeated, the agent glanced over at her.

“Ma’am, if you don’t have your passport, I’m going to have to ask you to exit the airport.”

Anne looked to her purse, looked to Martin, then back to the agent.

“Alright, well thank you,” she sighed and grabbing Martin’s hand again, turned him around and headed back the way they came, on the opposite side of the rope. She looked out the window and saw a plane taking off. Probably not her plane, she thought, but the symbolism was not lost on her.

“Where are we going? What are we doing?” Martin complained. Anne could tell his hunger was setting in.

She pulled them aside to a bench. ‘Maybe if I hadn’t woken up late I would have had my head on straight this morning. Maybe if we’d had a proper breakfast. The hotel boasted about their amazing breakfast,’ she thought and pictured the creamy eggs, fluffy French toast, and coffee. Definitely the coffee. ‘That desk attendant could have used some coffee…That desk attendant! How could I be so stupid! I left my wallet at the counter!’ She jumped up from the bench, startling Martin.

“Honey, we're going back to the hotel!”

“What about our bags?” Martin asked.

‘Shit,’ Anne thought. This was going to involve more steps then she anticipated. But now she had her head on straight. She was super-mom to the rescue!