Wilma hated airports. She couldn’t imagine anything more boring than sitting and waiting to board a plane where she would be rewarded with even more sitting and waiting.

She flexed her legs. She scooted around in the uncomfortable plastic seat beneath her. She turned on her phone. Then, she turned it off. Then, she turned it on again. She stretched her arms like she was preparing to run a 10k. She was about to stand up and to continue stretching despite the awkwardness of doing it in front of maybe 50 stodgy businessmen and businesswoman who were waiting for the same plane.

Then, Wilma heard a sound that delighted her ears. She heard the makings of an interesting conversation. She looked to her left, three seats down. An old man sat next to a teen boy who looked about Wilma’s age. Their heads ducked together conspicuously. Their voices sounded whispered secrets.

Wilma was not at all concerned that they might notice her watching them. She was bold like that. She did what she wanted. But she didn’t want them to shut up either, so she turned her head forward. She turned on her phone again and pretended to stare at it. She cocked an ear in the direction of their conversation.

“I think this trip will be good for you,” the old man said.

“You’ve already said that fifty times, old man,” said the boy. “I know that you just want to get rid of me. You can’t handle me. You think I’m abnormal.”

The old man sighed. “It’s true that I don’t understand you,” he said.

The boy laughed. “That’s an understatement,” he said. “And there’s nothing to understand.”

“I wish I could get through to you,” the old man said.

The boy laughed again. “There’s nothing to get through. I just am the way I am. Anyway, I need to get out of here.”

“I’d rather that you waited with me,” the old man said.

“I’m sure you would,” the boy laughed. “Relax, old man, I’m not going to miss the plane. You’ll get rid of me.”

“I don’t want you to get into any trouble,” the old man said.

“What trouble can I get into here?” the boy asked. “There’s a security guard every five feet. Relax, old man, I’ll be back soon.”

Wilma looked up. She saw the boy walking away. She wanted to know what he would do. What made this boy abnormal? She gathered her bags quickly and began walking after him.