“Then why bring them today?” I asked softly.
His eyes filled.
“For Claire.”
He swallowed hard.
“Your mother pinned those wings on me the day I made captain.”
Mom had been gone for seven years.
“I thought I’d wear them to Claire’s wedding. On the inside of my jacket. Just for me. So a little bit of her would be there, too.”
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
Dad cleared his throat roughly.
“Now, could we please stop making a production out of an old man’s career?”
Part 4: Thirty Extra Seconds
Somewhere nearby, someone started to clap.
Then someone else joined in.
Within seconds, almost the entire gate was applauding.
Dad looked absolutely mortified.
I laughed through my tears.
That was when the woman in the navy suit appeared near the boarding lane. Her eyes moved from Dad to the pilots and back again.
“I didn’t realize who he was.”
I stood up.
“You shouldn’t have needed to.”
“I was in a hurry.”
“So was everyone else.”
“I already told you, I didn’t know.”
She turned toward Dad. “I never would have said anything if I’d known.”
Dad slowly rose to his feet.
“And that’s the problem.”
The people around us fell quiet.
“Ma’am, I’m not upset that you didn’t recognize me. I’m upset that you believe recognizing me should have made any difference at all.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
“You don’t need to know what an old man did 30 or 40 years ago to give him 30 extra seconds.”
“Nobody should have to earn basic kindness with their résumé,” I added.
Her face went red.
The security supervisor stepped forward. “Ma’am, your group hasn’t been called yet. Please step out of the boarding lane and wait with the other passengers.”
She looked around. Several people from security were watching, and so was most of the gate.
