Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash Read Free Book Online Page B

elbow and walked her to the baggage check-in stand. Debbie Sue and Buddy followed.
    The skycap was a rotund black man with a broad smile that lit up as the foursome approached. “Good morning, folks. Please have your tickets and picture ID where I can see them. It’s a wonderful day for a trip. Yessir, wonderful.”
    His smile was contagious and Debbie Sue couldn’t help but feel bolstered. She stepped forward and handed over her driver’s license and ticket.
    â€œMiss Debbie Sue from Salt Lick,” he said looking at her ID. “You flying with us this morning all the way to New York City? You got any luggage you want to check?”
    Before she could answer Edwina stepped forward. “Eyes, balls and dicks!” Her voice echoed through the underground area.
    Everyone within hearing distance froze. Debbie Sue’s left eye began to twitch. She managed a halfhearted smile.
    â€œWhat’d she say?” the skycap asked, his smile now gone.
    â€œPlease. Don’t mind her,” Debbie Sue said quickly. “She gets airsick and she’s taken maybe one or two too many pills. She’s fine really.” Buddy shoved her suitcases forward. “Here, I have two pieces of luggage.”
    â€œWhy’d you look at me like that?” Edwina said, glaring at her. “You promised me. You promised me last night that if there was any trouble—”
    â€œMiss,” the skycap said, “may I see your ticket and some ID?”
    â€œYou bet.” She leaned forward and put her mouth close to his ear. “But don’t look at my picture,” she whispered loud enough for all to hear. “I hate that picture. I don’t photograph well. Not well at all.” She laid both items on the counter in front of him. Tilting her head in Debbie Sue’s direction, she said, “My friend here’s afraid I’m going to embarrass her or say something wrong. I haven’t done anything wrong, have I, officer?”
    â€œNo, ma’am. You’re doing just fine, but I’m not an officer.”
    She gave him a frown and a glare. “Then why’d you pull me over?”
    Vic quickly stepped forward, gently nudging Edwina aside. “She has two pieces of luggage and a carry-on.”
    The skycap grinned as he stamped the ticket, placed it and the boarding pass into a folded envelope and handed it back to Vic.
    â€œYou ladies will be boarding in one hour from gate Twenty-seven C. Right through those doors, up the escalator. Once through security, that is if you get through security, it’s two gates to your right. Have a nice trip.”
    Debbie Sue clutched Buddy’s arm. “Oh, my God. What if she’s not okay?”
    Buddy patted her hand. “She’s all right. If she wasn’t, Vic would take charge.”
    Debbie Sue chewed on her bottom lip as Edwina tottered back to the skycap and leaned across his narrow counter. “You’ve been a perfect gennelman. We all ’preciate whatyou boys are doing in the war.” Giving him a salute that fell three inches below her eye, she joined Debbie Sue.
    Debbie Sue looked up at Buddy. “Go on, now,” he said. “It’s gonna be all right.”
    As she took Edwina’s arm, Debbie Sue glanced nervously at Vic. The look on his face didn’t reassure her at all.
    Debbie Sue guided Edwina to the escalator and turned to look back at Buddy one last time. He and Vic stood shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk wearing grim expressions on their faces. Before Debbie Sue could fall into an even deeper pit of worry, the sudden movement beneath their feet caught Edwina off balance and she pitched forward. Debbie Sue grabbed her and propped her back on her feet as the moving staircase took them away from Buddy and Vic. Edwina declared loudly to no one in particular, “I’m fine. I’m fine. It’s these damned shoes.”
    To Debbie Sue’s great relief the