SPARKS 19

We are ready to board the private plane that will take us to Palermo. I’m holding Emily’s hand while Daniel is walking by his father. Dawn is marching ahead of us talking on her mobile.
“And we will swim?”
“Yes Emily, we will”
“Like the little mermaid?”
“Better than the little mermaid”
“I’m not so good at swimming … will you help me?”
“No, I won’t help you baby, I will teach you and by the end of the week-end you will be a little happy fish”
“Promise?”
“Promise”
I take her into my arms to carry her up the stairs. A nice stewardess welcomes us. I can see Howard, Mark and Emma are already there. Mark is struggling to put a bag on the overhead compartment, so Howard stands up, takes the bag from his hands, and places it above them. “There you go midget. Maybe next time we should ask the label for a Barbie plane. That should be just about your size”
“Doug you are so charming, and so homeless. I would start looking for a good hotel if I were you. You’ll come back to my house the day Gaz gives up doughnuts”
“I was only trying to help. I cannot image what it must feel like being a Lilliputian in a world of giants”
“I cannot imagine what it must be like having a 72 IQ score and not living in a zoo”
Jason has just walked in and asks “Is it described as dullness Markie?”
“You wish mate, I think borderline deficiency is what they call it” Mark answers. Looks at Jason and high-fives him.
“The two of you are a couple of freaks. You just cannot accept the fact this body treasures a mind too…” while he says it he raises his eyes and sees me, standing in the middle of the isle, Emily still in my arms. He smiles at me and takes a few steps toward us “welcome on board ladies!” kisses Emily’s cheek and his hair brush my nose, tickling me. “You can seat right here, 9 and 10, while uncle Markie and me are sitting 11-12”. He takes Emily from my arms and has her sitting by the window. In order for me to get to my seat I have to walk right in front of him. The isle is narrow and our bodies touch. We both close our eyes for a split second. *do not blush*, I hear him breathe deep. Then I turn to Emily to make sure her seat belt is fastened and I give her a coloring book. I take my seat and only the isle is standing between Howard and me. We keep on winking at each other while the rest of the passengers slowly get on board and we are ready to take off.
Mark feels like chatting and turns to Howard. Looks at him and literally freaks out “you have a book? What the heck Doug! You know the rule! No freaking changes in the routine when we fly! It’s bad luck! Mark hates to fly! Enough! DOUG IS READING … A BOOK! And ….” he checks it “has no pictures in it! BAD OMEN! Let’s cancel the trip! It’s a déjà vu, like in the movie, the one about the kid and the dream”
Howard doesn’t stop reading and speaks in a very calm voice “you’re hyperventilating. Would you like me to knock you down? I would be happy to do it for you mate”
“VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER! Reading! Shame on you Doug! You really are messed up. It’s worst than I thought!”
“Screw you Markie”
“It’s gonna be a great week-end. I feel it! Doug is reading, I’m gonna wake up tomorrow morning and I’ll be 6’ tall and Jason will cut his meditation crap! We’re in the Twilight Zone peopleeeeeee! Someone help me!”
Howard turns to Gary “can you please take care of him? I feel the sudden urge of smashing his little head against the window”
Gary smiles “Of course I will, my little Markie…” and sits on his laps leaning against him “Gaz .. can’t .. breath … Doug … you can knock… me down now … it will be less painful..”
We all laugh but I’m curious now. I try to get a glimpse of what he’s reading. I can see him snigger and wink at me. I give him a puzzled look and he raises the cover enough for me to read the title.
I rest my head on the chair *Divine Comedy, the Paradise, he’s reading about me*
“Why are you smiling Bea?” Emily asks.

We land in Palermo and from there we have a helicopter that will take us to Salina. It’s almost 40 of us so we will have to take turns. We decide kids and nannies first, so we will have time to get settled and the guys with Dawn and Emma last. I’m walking to the helicopter taking the kids by their hands when I feel two hands wrapping my waist. I almost jump. “Hold on a second” Howard is smiling at me “I just want to know one thing”.
“What is it uncle Howard?” I answer
“Julie is not here right?”
“No she’s not”
“And she is not planning on coming, right?”
“Yes”
Biggest smile ever on his face “you can go now, I know no one can stop me from kissing you later” he whispers and sigh “I wish I could come with you but they decided to start the celebrations for Jason’s birthday”. And he’s just standing there, looking at me when we hear Dawn calling him “Doug! Come here! We’re waiting for you! Now! I mean it”
He smiles at me “Lord Sauron is calling for me; better go before she turns Salina into Mount Doom”.
He squeezes my hand, bows and reaches the guys. I’m looking at him walking away *if there was an award for sexiest butt he would world champion*. But my train of thoughts is interrupted by my mobile.
“Ciao Caro, we just landed”
“I’m back in town. It is so unfair! Stupid honeymoon! I cannot believe I missed the costume session! If I was there you would have taken the sexy nurse one. Believe me!”
I laugh “should I assume Felix is not by you?”
“He’s already out hunting for food! He has a meeting with the Chinese people”
“All of them? He must have a heck of a conference room”
“Ah Ah Ah. You owe me a shag don’t forget it”
“I thought we were well over the bet issue”
“Yeah right. Have you kissed him?”
“No”
“What are you waiting for? Should I come down and hold him so you can do it?”
“I think I’m good thanks”
“Watch out for Dawn”
“How do know it? You were not here, you haven’t even met her. Who are you really?”
“I have a bad feeling”
“It’s under control, don’t worry”
“I do worry, if I was her you would be eating through a straw by now. She’s too quite. How come she hasn’t kicked your bitchy ass yet? She must be thinking about something”
“That is really interesting and let me tell you I’m glad you’re on my side but I have to go now, I’m about to get on a helicopter with the kids”
I hear her laughing hard, “are you in the first group?”
“Yes I am”
“Can I tell your uncle you’re traveling with the servants? Please?”
“There’s nothing wrong or undermining with being a nanny”
“I know that! Let’s tell him! You give me a minute and I’ll organize a conference call. What do you think, should I call the paramedics first?”
“I’d love to chat with you, duty calls”
“Don’t forget to be mysterious”
“Eh?”
“MYSTERIOUS, men love it”
“I’ll see what I can do”