20 Hours Later

Leaving NY was a harried blur. Carl made his arrangements, delivered projects, put jobs on hold, let some go by the way side. He wasn't sure where he would be staying, he just packed a lot of black clothes and hopped the next available flight to Middle Earth, Ladrone colony. The NY to Tokyo direct flight was a sleepeless journey, he was feeling ill. He didn't care much for the in-flight movies or the airline food. Instead Carl practiced his spells. He cast 'Hold Person' on the elderly Japanese woman sitting next to him as he popped one of Airborne(R) cold prevention tablets in his mouth. She told Carl her entire life story... in Japanese, then went fast asleep. Not realizing they were carbonated he started to foam at the mouth as he chewed. He tried to wake the sleeping Okasan to get to the bathroom as foam ran down his chin into his shirt. His magic was good, she would not awake until they landed in Japan.

The Narita Airport was a beehive of activity, Japanese people rushing around in paper breathing filters, Australians hedging their way to the bar by terminal D50, business men from the mainland bragging about their sexcapades in Thailand. Carl walked the entire airport and found the only western style toilet. The 0-benjo was not to his liking. After finally realizing that the airport phones only operated with yen and Japanese calling cards, he found his way to the smoking section and waited for his next flight. He read the People Magazine (Nick who? Why is he so important?) and ate the loaf of cranberry bread that Olla had packed for him.

He finally arrived on Ladrone, the island colony of Middle Earth where he would be reuntied with his family. Larry, Ralph, Hkai and Hkorei where there to great him. It was now 2:00 am on Sunday. His parents have lived there since after the great war. Ladrone itself had been a great battle ground among Orc, Ogre, Hobbit and the Japanese. The island used to bear the scars of war and dragon attacks. Now it has healed over with box stores, malls, mega super markets, hotel chains ands mid-day traffic. The 20 hour flight and 14 hour time difference took its toll on Carl. He didn't sleep through the entire flight.

Today is now Wednesday, I've spent evenings at nightly prayer vigils and days going over all my fathers paperwork with the brother Larry. Each night I'm greated by people I don't entirely remember and a few schoolmates. But mostly I see freinds of my parents who pinch my face as they offer condolences and tell me "Carl, you look the same". My father left this life a bit unprepared, we made organized folders from his many boxes and bags of papers. I still have to comb over the 'out' pile before we shred everything. We don't want to give our mother an assessment until after Friday, there's just so much going on right now. I've kept her distracted by working with her on my father's memorial booklet, its a bit like working with the worst managing editor you've ever met, she pinches me when I make a typo. She liked his photo that I retouched, she said he looked so alive. I am worried about her, she hasn't cried once, yet.

Today is final family service before the funeral. This is the first time that we will see my father before we bury him tomorrow. I know this will be shock to everyone, we've only been addressing my father as a tax ID number with insurance forms up until now. I have to write the euology for this evening.