Short Story

A ticket to ride

I want to let you in on a little adventure that I had last year.  Every time I think of it I just scratch my head.  Ya' see, I can't explain it, none of it.  Not one thing. Maybe if I tell you what I can remember, you can help me figure it out.  Besides if I don't tell someone about this incident, I feel my head will explode.  I'll do my best to piece together what happened last year as best I can.  You can use your imagination to help fill in any blanks I might have to this story.

Gary, my brother's brother-in-law, celebrated his sixtieth birthday yesterday so that means in another thirty days I'll belong to the big six-o club as well.  When I see him tomorrow, I guess I'll tease him and ask him how it feels to be an old man. Then I want to hear what great stuff he got for his birthday.  I can't wait.

The following day Jack,  Chris, and I were standing beside Jack's gas grill that rested snug between the empty swimming pool and the brown and white garage.  We had been exchanging theories on what the future lie ahead for our  New York Yankees, since the team had recently lost their prized clean-up hitter due to injury.
"They'll be okay," my brother, Jack said. "the team has too much depth and I'm sure Jeter will step up like he always does.  Oh yeah, they'll be fine."
"Ya think so? Ummm. . ." Chris added and popped another Cheez-Doodle into his mouth, "I donno about that Jack."

Jack sipped some beer and replaced it on the cutting table that stood next to the grill. Then peered over his steel-rimmed eyeglasses to look back at us and explained, "The Yankees are in first place right now with the largest lead they ever had in their history.  Besides, their upcoming schedule  includes teams that are sub par.   When the tough teams come to town, A-Rod will probably be fielding grounders and ready to return." Then he stressed, "I know he sustained a serious injury but you have to understand that an athlete can bounce back or recover a helluvalot faster than you or I could if we had the same injury.  And remember the Yankees probably have the best general manager in the majors.  Brian Cashman  signed some major talent and he may do it again this summer to fill the void caused by A-Rod." My brother  turned to me and pointedly advised, "Don't give up on them too soon, Jim.  You can be sure that the Yanks will be in the Series this year." 

"Billie feels that the Yanks should give another team a chance to win the World Series.  She believes that way it would be more fair."

"Sounds like a true Met fan." Chris joked.

I turned to see Billie's reaction and out of the corner of my eye  I noticed Gary had just entered the backyard.  After waving to me he approached with a huge smile plastered across his face. Gary extended a friendly hand of welcome to each of us at the barbeque grill, "Jack" he said.

Clenching a cigar between his lips to free his right hand, Jack turned from the grill and grabbed his brother-in-laws hand and said, "Glad you could make it, Gary" Chris told the new visitor that a plate of appetizers was on a table in the opened garage if he wanted to nibble on anything in the meantime.    

Like always my brother and his wife spared  no expense when they prepared for their lavish backyard barbeque partys. Guests sat underneath a canopied yard on soft patio chairs or along two redwood picnic tables that abutted each other and extended further down the shadowy driveway.  Three large coolers of bottled beer, water, and fruit drinks lined the aluminum pool.  Across from it a table crowded with liquors, and diet sodas leaned on the grey aging wall that ended the backyard property.  The main buffet area was carefully designated to sit atop three oblong tables inside the garage.  It was on one of the smaller tables that Gary fixed for himself a small plate of carrots, cherry tomatoes, and finger-sized salami slices.

Jack continued to busy himself at the gas grill where he diligently cooked the main courses.  The menu was always changing.  Beside the staples of hot dogs and burgers, Jack often prepared a fabulous assortment of grilled foods, like  chicken, sausage, london broil, and spare ribs to name a few.   Many were especially marinated in special sauces to seal in additional tangy flavors.  Yes, my brother had an undisputed talent at the grill and he shared this passion with his best pal, Paul who we all hoped would arrive soon.

Balancing  a small plastic plate of appetizers in his right hand and a bottle of beer in the other, Gary returned to tell us of his recent birthday bounty."When I woke up this morning, Sue surprised me with her birthday present for me. . ." he excitedly started to say.

Jack and Chris both looked at each other and I stopped Gary with, "Hold it. . .wait. . .no,no.  Just a second, ahhh"

Jack rephrased and said "We don't want to know exactly what your wife gave you in the morning, Gary.  Though if you want. . ."

"A putter.  Sue gave me a $399 SeeMore putter." He went on to describe the advantages of this new hi-tech putter.  "The club has two alignment stripes to help golfers keep their ball straight."

Chris jumped in "Wouldn't want a golfer to have crooked balls, would we?"

"$399 for a putter with two lines on it. I hope they were gold plated lines." added Jack.

"Crap. That's a ton of money for a golf club.  It's no wonder golfers can't afford clothes that fit."  I quipped.

After our laughter had subsided, Gary turned to me and said "Ya know, Jim,  I still have two tickets I won last year and I don't want them to go to waste.  Maybe you could take them off my hands." He then handed me the two paper tickets.

"Wow, thanks Gary.  What are they for anyhow?" I asked

"A ride for two in a hot air balloon." he grinned.He quickly continued "Believe me, hot air balloons are safe."

"I don't doubt that for a second.  I'm sure they are perfectly safe.  Riding in one, is that safe?"

Jack thought it best to come to the aid of his older brother and reassured me "Jim,  people do it every day.  Beside there are more fatalities crossing the street each month than an entire year of hot air balloon trips."

I looked at him and grunted, "Where are you getting these statistics, Jack?  You subscribe to Hot Air Balloon monthly, or something."

Chris wondered aloud, "Where the hell, is that street that has all those fatalities?  I gotta stay away from there."

Later that night when Paul pulled up in front of the house on his Harley, he was greeted by Jack.  The two best friends hugged and walked back to the yard where they chose a few empty patio seats to rest.


Jack and his wife Joanne first met Paul and his wife Adrienne through a mutual friend many years ago when both couples were members of the same bowling league.  The two pair immediately bonded and an enduring friendship formed.  Aside from Jack and Paul's friendship, Joanne and Adrienne became bff or best friends forever.

"Guess what Jimmy's got?" Joanne asked Paul.

"Herpes?"

"No," she playfully prodded Paul.

I pulled out the two tickets Gary gave me earlier in the day. Once Paul read "Hot Air Balloon" on the ticket he instantly bent over  bellowing with laughter.

I smiled weakly and utterred "What's so funny,  I don't get it, what's so funny. . ."

He tried in vainly to enlighten me, "You fell for it. . ."

"What did I fall for??"

"Hot, Hot air. . ." he continued laughing "balloons."

"I don't get it"

Paul caught his breath and slowly said, "The tickets are maybe a year old plus he won them.  Ever ask yourself, why Gary didn't use them for himself or for that matter why he didn't give them to his son, or sister, or maybe even to one of his brother-in-laws?"

"I don't care.  These tickets are legit and I intend to make good use of them."

"More power to ya"

I saw Billie finishing up her potato salad and then looked directly at me saying "Hey, hey Paddy don't look at me.  You know how I feel about heights. . . this trip is all yours."

I read the ticket and saw the company offered no liabilty for accidents sustained during flights but I decided right then and there I would take the trip nonetheless.  I figured I had a reputation to uphold.  I don't know what that reputation is, but uphold it I must.


. . . to be continued 

A ticket to ride continued

"Uncle Jimmy's gonna what???"  Danny blurted after hearing his mom tell him that I was going to go on a hot air balloon. He had just emerged from his new car, a Chevrolet something-or-other and heard some commotion that was coming from beyond the five foot white picket fence that shielded a canopied driveway and backyard.  His wife, Melissa, was already there and she was playing in a kidde swimming pool with their two young daughters, Kayla and Sammy. After shutting the gate behind them, both Danny and his mom walked towards the small group of relatives and friends that had gathered near the garage.  He saw Paul his father-in-law,  and, Jack his dad laughing with me,his uncle Jimmy at the gas barbeque grill while his uncles Gary and Chris were both standing inside the garage exchanging jokes.  Danny  tapped Melissa on her shoulder and murmered, "Hon, is it true?  Mom tells me Uncle Jimmy is going on a Hot Air Balloon."

"So is your father.  And your mom can't talk them out of it." she shook her head in frustration.

Danny smiled broadly and said, "Dad and uncle Jimmy in a hot air balloon.  Awesome!" 

"I don't get it? What's the appeal?" Melissa mused, "First, my dad buys a motorcycle, then uncle Chris goes skydiving, now your dad and uncle Jimmy plan to ride a freakin' hot air balloon.  What's gonna happen next?  Is this a man's version of PMS or something?"

Paul overheard his daughter and piped up with, "I'll tell you what happens next;  I'm thinkin' of bus jumping on my Harley."

"This is just great, now." Melissa touted. "I don't want Kayla and Sammy to grow up without both grandfathers.  Danny, you have to stop them."

"No way, honey.  This is awesome."

Melissa looked at Stephanie who was holding Sammy in her arms and pleaded, "You have to help me here, girl.  We have to stop this.  Your brother thinks it's just great that they're going through with this "balloon" thing."

Stephanie shrugged and calmly said, "So do I. It sounds kinda cool." She glanced at the two newest hot air balloon ticket holders who turned towards her and gave her a "thumbs up"sign of approval.

Joanne and Billie, the wives of the two ticket holders were both fervently opposed to their husband's upcoming hot air balloon adventure.  "I have to agree with Melissa on this," Joanne told my wife  "Hot air ballooning at their age is utter foolishness."

Billie nodded and added, "You are so right.  Attending a Yankee game or a Jet game is more their speed now.  Not flying in a damn hot air balloon. But as much as I hate this, I can't find it in my heart to take this dream he has with his brother of going on such a frivolous adventure."

Joanne relented after considering the thought of forbidding Jack from going on the balloon with his older brother.  "Ya' know, Billie, I really can't do it either.  At least Gary tells me that everything is handled by experts and safety measures are always taken."

Still, the only objection to this adventure was voiced by Melissa. 

The trip continues

The day of Jack's and my hot air balloon adventure quickly arrived and we couldn't have asked for better weather for it.

During the budding hours of that morning a small caravan of cars consisting of our family and friends whizzed traffic-free across the George Washington bridge on our journey to "Overland's Hot Air Balloon Tours" situated on the outskirts of Middleton, in upstate New York.  Danny and Melissa having previously camped along a lakeside  that bordered the small town, sheparded the flock of cars and minivans through a three and one half hour trek into the thickening timberland of upstate New York.  During the final portion of this long odyssey, the couple heard their oldest daughter ask, "Are we there yet? Huh, Are we there?" Over and over and over.

Danny smiled and turned the car onto a small dirt road where he saw an old wooden signpost which read: "Welcome to Overland's Hot Air Balloon Tours" and  said to his oldest daughter, "Yes, Kayla we're almost there."

As the line of cars followed Danny on the dirt road and through a tunnel of overhanging Sugar Maple trees they approached a massive pear-shaped hot air balloon moored to the gound.  Vibrant colors of red and yellow vertically striped the sides of the airship and a thick swerving banner around the widest portion of the balloon read: " OVERLAND'S " in black old-fashioned lettering.  Standing next to an opened gate which lined the dirt road,  a man not much older than Danny waved his arms in greeting to the small entourage of cars that stopped in front of him.
"C'mon in folks." he said 'Been waitin' fer yer."
I stepped out of the car I was in with Billie, Jack and Joanne and walked over to the young man at the gate.  He said to my surprise, "Mornin, Jim, glad you could make it."
"How did you know that my name is Jim?"
He calmly answered, "Didn't. Seems I call everyone I never met, "Jim."  Then continued with a slight giggle, "But yer name really is "Jim?" Now, ain't that a hoot."
"Well my name is Larry.  Larry Overland and I'll be operatin' the balloon."
Jack and I left the group and went over to the huge balloon that peacefully swayed with each breeze and saw that the wicker basket for passengers was anchored to four posts that encircled it.  Our  inspection was interrupted by Larry's voice,  "Mighty pretty, huh?"
"Sure is." I answered.
"What are these tanks for, Larry?' Jack pointed to the four silver cylindrical tanks that were fastened to each of the inner four corners of the passenger basket.
"Propane" Larry explained, "Ya see,  these here tanks have a thin tubes which are connected to the burner, right up there.  When the burner heats the air and, as you know hot air rises, then presto the balloon lifts up."
"I get it,now." Jack turned to me and said, "If I'm right, this means the more air that is heated, the higher the balloon goes."
Larry nodded and heard me ask, "Okay, I get that part but how do you move the balloon, sideways?"
He smiled, and said, " You can't.  I only have control over the lift.  The air currents move it sideways."
"Holy Christmas." was my simple responce.
"No need to worry, Jim.  The day is beautiful and calm, besides there are a few parachutes in the basket in case we get too high and run into a problem."
"Now, I need to stamp your tickets, guys."
After Jack and I handed Larry our tickets, he hesitated a little before he stamped them and said, "Ya got some pretty old tickets here, fellas.  No need to worry though, they're still valid"
"That's odd" I told Jack, "I could have sworn Gary said they were not more than a year old when he handed them to me."
"Jim, Gary didn't give you the two tickets."
"Sure he did." I countered, "In fact he gave them to me at last weeks barbeque.  Remember, you said that since Billie is deathly afraid of height, you would stand in for her."
About that time we were surrounded by everyone who travelled with us there.  Paul and Adrienne were alongside Danny and Melissa who stood behind Kayla and Stephanie who was holding Sammy, and next to us was Billie and Joanne.
Jack was totally bewildered and tried once more to convince me that Gary hadn't given me both tickets.
Joanne intervened, " Jim, your brother is right.  He found his ticket buried at the bottom of his underwear drawer two weeks ago."

"But this ticket.  How did I get this ticket?" Now I was becoming concerned.  I had forgotten small things in the past, just little things here and there, like my glasses or my hat- stupid stuff. But how in hell could I forget entire events?  Was I loosing it or something?

Billie started to rationalize the events and offered me her guess, "Maybe you don't want to remember where you got the ticket, Jim." She looked at Joanne and both started to nod in agreement.

Several weeks earlier, while examining the memorabilia that was inside a carton from that my aunt which she left to Jack and I,  I encountered upon a fading plastic zippered pouch filled with personal papers of my uncle Eddie.   I opened each envelope to see either old bills, financial statements, or letters he had written to his sister while he was in the army.  In the midst of them all I came upon a red, white and blue bordered, airmail envelope that was simply addressed, "Jimmy." Then I carefully removed a fading letter that was handwritten by my uncle and began to read:

Lil' Buddy, 

I dearly hope you can read my most illegible script.  The thought of using a typewriter still gives me the willies, and I think you may understand why.  

Your aunt Paula tells me that you and Jack have grown into two fine young men and your mom and dad would be so very proud and happy of the women you chose to marry and the love you all share. 

First off, I must let you in on a little secret and hope I don't get in dutch with the boss up here for doing so.  Seems they frown on "spilling the beans" up here as well.  Still, I can't help myself, given the fact our family was never really good at keeping the lid on. 

Nonetheless, you must some simple truths, and that is with every story you share with Jack about your mom and dad or me, for that matter, we are there with you too.  Every time you mention us or even dream about us, we are standing there right beside you. 

You see, Jim, we really never left yous guys.  You can still see us when you look into your wife's eyes and tell Jack that each time he picks up his grandchild to hug, we too are hugging him back. 

Oh we are there, lil buddy.  Make no mistake, we are most certainly there.  

Now your old uncle has a favor to ask of you.  Use the ticket in the envelope.  That's right. Use that ticket. 

It seems I've been given a chance to pay you fellas one last visit.  I really can't tell you more than that other than to follow the instructions on the back of the ticket. Everything will be clearer to you when the time for our visit arrives. Oh, I almost forgot, don't bring a camera- it's not allowed.Love,Uncle  Ed

I turned to Billie and for one brief secound, I thought  her eyes twinkled, then I glanced at Jack and saw he was getting an extra tight hug from Sammy and finally I looked away to her daddy, Danny who I used to call "Lil Buddy" and the pieces to this strange puzzle I was in finally fell into place.

"Now I know why you didn't object more strenuously to this balloon flight.  I can remember the letter, now." I said to Billie.  

Larry broke the silence and said as he opened the small door on the passenger wicker basket. "Shall we?"

Jack and I both stepped inside while Larry untied the four ropes that anchored the basket to the ground.  Once he was finished he stepped inside with us and rotated the brass knob on the burner that spewed a large and deafeningly loud flame to heat the air inside the balloon.  Within seconds the basket rocked to and fro then rose higher and higher into the clear blue sky above. 

to be continued. . .

"Only a minute more, fellas, and you can take your hands down." Larry shouted 

The roar of the overhead burner had prompted me and my brother to cup our ears with the palms of our hands. It wasn't until the balloon had reached the first wind current that Larry toggled off the thundering burner above us. After I saw what he had done I uncovered my ears and said, "Whew! That thing is damn loud."

"You betch' it is," replied Larry and explained, "That's why I can't ride this thing here over my neighbor's farm.  So loud, the noise spooks their cows." and added, "Somethin', huh?"

Jack asked Larry, "How about if you take this thing up higher?  Would the cows still hear it?"

"Don't rightly know.  This is as high I take my tours."

While he was squinting at the small circle of our family and friends who were all looking up to us, Jack noticed something a might peculiar.  He saw that the wind was forcing the trees below to sway toward the west, while that very same wind was guiding the balloon we were in toward the east.

"Cover your ears again, fellas.  I'm gonna turn the burner on so we can add some lift to this balloon." Larry warned.

Again, the flame increased in size and began to roar.  

Both Jack and I leaned on the top of  the rubber padded wicker passenger basket of the rising balloon and tried to rationalize the unnerving sight below.  We hoped our operator, could explain this strange phenonema so we turned inward and saw that we were alone in the basket.

"Shit!!"  I shouted.

"Where the hell is Larry??" Jack yelled

"Shit!!" I repeated in horror.

"What do you think happened, Jim?"

 I stood rigid and looked at Jack to say once more, "Shit!!"

"This better not be a joke. 'Cause I'm not laughing." then said under my breath, "Shit."

We fruitlessly inspected every last inch of the tiny wicker basket for any sign of our operator as the overhead burner rumbled making the balloon go higher and higher.  

We looked at each other and both ran to the main contol switch  on the side of the burner and snapped the toggle in the off position. A sigh of relief escaped us when the engine sputtered off killing the flame.  Although the air in the balloon had stopped heating up, we continued gaining altitude, nonetheless.

"Maybe we did something wrong. Huh?" I asked.

"No. I don't think so, Jim.  I was watching Larry at the controls when we first got in this freakin' balloon and we did nothing wrong.  I just don't get it."

Jack and I jumped back into action and examined the burner for any additional knobs or buttons we had overlooked.   We hoped that we could find some type of emergency switch that would help lower us to the ground.  Our biggest concern was that we would use up all of the propane losing all navigational control when the ship finally descends. But until that time, I saw a more immediate menace hovering right above us, a single cumulus storm cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky.  I left Jack at the controls while I stepped aside and did what I knew I could do best - scream in bloody horror, "HELP!! HELP!!

My screams gradually faded into a whisper and that whisper morphed into these thoughts, "Help. . . huh.  Why bother. . .nobody can hear us, we're too high up. . ."

Suddenly a familiar voice, a voice I had not heard in almost thirty years hollered out from that single cumulus cloud.

"SEEK HARM . . . SEEK HARM . . ."

I heard these muffled words echo.

"You hear that , Jack?  What does "Seek Harm" mean? What the hell is goin' on here?" I felt the first stage of panic course through my veins, ushering out the feeling of terror which was firmly entrenched there for the past thirty minutes.

"That's dad's voice."                           

The rest of our journey

This time the same voice bellowed more clearly, "STAY CALM . . .STAY CALM. . 

Still, the balloon rose higher and higher and entered the outer edges of the cloud where the voice seemed to come.  Our journey passed through small patches of translucent fog until finally, the balloon eased to a full stop.  Neither Jack nor I could understand what made the ship we were in move.  The air was still and breezeless.

I thrust my arm into the thick cloud that surrounded us and began to make wide swimming-type strokes to start the balloon moving again.   No matter how hard or often I dragged my hand through the air the basket appeared to remain motionless.  We were still going nowhere so I pulled my tingling arm back and was horrified to discover that it was not my arm at all.  On closer inspection, I saw a ring on one of the fingers.  It wasn’t' just any ring, no it was a gold red-stoned initiation ring with the masonic symbol of the Knight's of Columbus embossed on either side.  This was unmistakably my dad's ring, and the finger that is was on was attached to my dad's arm.  I was transforming into my father who passed away thirty-nine years earlier.  I waved my arm hysterically, whipping it about like I was putting a fire out on my hand. Then uneasiness grew in my stomach and my head started to feel unnaturally light.  I knew I was about to pass out.  Just then the haziness whisked out of the basket revealing a portly middle-aged man standing right in front of me dressed in my brother's clothes.


"Shit!!! Where's Jack??" I demanded, "What have you done with my brother? And who the heck are you??"


The heavyset man looked at me through his alligator framed glasses and beamed, then raised his distorted index finger to the sky and lovingly uttered, "One guess, lil buddy.  One guess."


For that one brief moment the feeling of panic and terror disappeared.  Gone was the fear of hopelessness. I felt a warm blanket of security envelope me. 


 I smiled broadly at the portly man before me and said with wonder and a lot of affection, "Uncle Eddie?"


"Is that really you, Uncle Ed?" I repeated.


"Sure is, lil buddy." my uncle said.


"Bu, bu, but . . . how?" I stammered


"Well, ya' see I'm here, but then again, I'm not here."


"Huh?"


"I had to borrow your brother's body so you could see me." He then explained more thoroughly "Your dad and I received two tickets to visit with yous two, one last time.  I wanted to see you and your dad needed to see Jack.  Your brother is right here talking to your dad."


I was flabbergasted to hear this.  And little by little I began to make sense of the day’s strange journey.


"Holy Christmas!!" I blurted in awe.  "Ya, mean this entire day was planned?"


"Yes, I thought I explained it all in the letter with the ticket." Uncle Ed said, "You did read the letter, didn't you?"


"Well . . .most of it." I confessed.


Uncle Eddie laughed and told me "That's alright."


He smiled at me and said, "Seriously, I want to say something to you I should have said many years ago.  Thank you, lil buddy, thank you.  Thanks for telling me that my lil brother, your dad, had passed away.  You were so young. . ."


"Uncle Ed," I reached out and begged. " Don't go!" 


All that remained of my portly visitor was his pair of alligator framed eyeglasses that now lie near my feet.    Then an icy cold wind rushed right through my body and I blinked to see my brother where my uncle had just stood.


"Don't leave, dad." Jack implored.


We looked at each other and immediately realized something unexplainable had just happened.  I told him who I saw and what was said then Jack started to tell me whom he saw but hesitated.


"Well," I urged, "what did Dad say, Jack. C'mon, what did he say to you?"


Jack appeared confused then slowly said, "He thanked me, Jim.  He thanked me for telling you that he had died.  He said he was so proud of me that morning." Jack shook his head.


We were both abruptly interrupted by the sudden movement of the balloon we were in.  A gust of wind had pushed our tiny airship out of the clouds.  Finally we noticed that we were free.  Our one small challenge that remained ahead of us was to land the craft.  It was not something we had prepared ourselves to do.  We had to learn and learn fast because the balloon was dropping and the ground was approaching. 


I tried to turn on the overhead burner but all I head was the hollow click made by the toggle switch.  The two of us bent down to check if the propane tanks were connected.

  


"Parachutes!!!!!" I shouted.


We each grabbed a parachute stowed snugly behind the gas tanks.  Then stood up to see Larry Overland click on the burner.


Through the welcome roar of the overhear flame we shouted to our operator, "Where did you come from??"


Larry clicked off the burner and said,

"Ehhh??"


"Where were you Larry?" I asked


"Never left the basket." he replied quite evenly.


"No, you were gone when the balloon started to get higher." Jack said.


"Stay calm . . .stay calm.  I don't take my tours that high, fellas. Remember?"


The balloon eased down once more and brushed several treetops to reduce our speed and dropped even more to glide along an open field to stop.  Larry had pulled a rope which allowed the remaining air to escape from the top of the balloon.  Jack and I hobbled out of the basket and thanked Larry for a very unforgettable journey and walked across the field to our family and friends who waited for us near their cars.


I could swear something happened to my brother and I on that balloon ride.

The memories were vivid and scary and warm.  But I've had nightmares that seemed real as well.  Maybe Larry was right and he never left.  Maybe we never went into a cloud or maybe I just wished I saw uncle Ed.


As Jack and I posed for pictures by the cars, Larry ran over to me and said,

"Hey Jim, this must be yours, I found it in the basket."


I looked down to see in his open hand an old pair of alligator framed eyeglasses.