Airport Pleasantries
"Mateo! Oh my god, how are you? I haven't seen you in forever!"
"Oh, hi. Renee. I'm fine."
"It is so crazy to run into you here, of all places! I really just can't believe it. I mean, one minute, I was sitting at home in boring old Milwaukee, but then I got a call from a strange foreign prince that he was going to pay for me to take a vacation anywhere I wanted if I only gave him my credit card information! Isn't that amazing? I just can NOT believe. Me! Of all people! Haha, so here I am, at the airport in Chicago, ready to board a plane and go to Spain! Oh! I rhymed! Life really is just so funny sometimes when you think about it, isn't it Mateo?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah, it is. Wow, a foreign prince? Did he give you his name?"
"Oh no, of course not! It's all very secret and confidential. You know how it is. He has to keep himself safe just in case they're listening over the phone! I'm just so excited for this trip, I haven't been on any exciting vacations since we graduated college, and that was ten years ago! Oh, how time flies. Oh! Mateo! I forgot to ask! Why are you here? Where are you off to?
"I'm, uh, actually just getting back. From Toledo. My mom died."
"Oh, no! I'm so sorry. Look at me, just blabbing on and on and on about my life! That was so selfish of me. I should really learn how to just shut my mouth and listen to people every now and again. That must be so horrible for you and your family. Your dad is still working at that law firm, right? And your sister is still a news anchor over there? What was her name again?"
"Oh, it's Saman--"
"Samantha! Yes! God, she used to be so much fun when we were all in college, partying it up and having so much fun! I miss those days. Now it's all blah, blah, blah, take care of my kids, go to work, get the groceries. Ugh. It's all so mundane and, like, adult. But you know how that goes, right, Mateo? Oh gosh, how's Madaline?"
"We broke up."
"Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. That really is too bad. You two were such a handsome couple! My husband and I were always so jealous of how effortless you made it all look! I mean, seriously. Remember that one night, junior year, when we all snuck into the science building to see those frogs they were keeping in the lab? On GOD, that was one of the best nigh--"
"Renee! Please! This is really not the time. You have to catch your flight to wherever the hell that scam is sending you, and I need to get home. Oh, hold on, my sister is calling. See you later, Renee. Have a safe flight."
"But, Mateo, your phone didn't even ring, silly! Mateo? Why are you walking away? We have so much to catch up on! Mateo! Huh. Bye, I guess. I wonder what got into him."