thirty thousand feet. The occupants settled back for the long, twenty-hour and thirty-minute flight that would bring them to their destination.
“First,” Annie said, “we’re going to have some breakfast. Eggs Benedict. Mimosas. Fresh Hawaiian coffee from Kona. Then we can get down to business and work on our plans.” The announcement was met with hoots of approval. They laughed outright when Annie said lunch would be shrimp scampi and beef medallions in a red wine sauce, basil risotto, and a fresh garden salad. Dinner, she went on to say, was going to be a surprise because the caterer had not told her what it was before boarding. “I’m sure it will meet with our approval. In the meantime, the coffee and wine are at your disposal.” More hoots of pleasure.
The group paired off. Alexis and Isabelle went to the back of the plane to start separating the outfits they would all don before disembarking in Hong Kong. Maggie and Ted had their heads together as Crescent China Tours tour leaders. Dennis settled himself next to Espinosa to talk about what he called the snatch and grab. “I hope those guys over there buy our cover that we’re doing a pictorial for the paper,” he fretted. Espinosa assured him they were pros, and neither one had a thing to worry about. “Listen, kid, everyone likes to have their picture taken and nice things written about them. That’s what we’re going to do. But first we’re going to have breakfast. And then we’ll map out our strategy.”
Harry and Yoko were huddled together whispering to each other. Cooper snoozed at their feet, happy and content.
Nikki and Kathryn sat side by side, speaking softly about the upcoming Christmas season, shopping, and decorating, while Myra, Annie, Charles, Fergus, and Jack shared what each knew about Buddhism and the monks at the monastery at Song Mountain in China—which wasn’t all that much, and more than anything was just a bunch of words to pass the time.
“I’m tired of talking about monks. Let’s decide what we’re going to buy when we get to Hong Kong. I think we girls should have some gowns made for our New Year’s Eve party,” Myra said.
“What party?” Charles and Fergus asked in unison.
Myra laughed. “Actually, it was Annie’s idea, and it is such a good idea, I immediately agreed. We want to have a party at the farm for all the people we’ve helped these past years. To see how they’re doing, to see if they need our special brand of help. Basically, to show them all we’re still here should they ever require our services in the future.”
“That’s a great idea, Annie. Count me in,” Jack said enthusiastically. “Are you sure you can fit everyone at the farm? It’s a very long list.”
“It may be a little crowded, but I don’t think anyone will mind. I’m going to bring it up after breakfast to see if everyone approves. If so, then Annie and I will get on it when we get back to the farm,” Myra said, glee ringing in her voice.
Further conversation came to a halt when the hostess appeared with the food trays.
Cooper bounded down the aisle and took up his position next to Jack as he waited for his plate. Jack leaned toward the dog just long enough for a thought to work its way through his head. “I think the dog wants six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg.”
The hostess blinked. “The food came already prepared. I don’t think anyone requested that kind of meal.”
“Maybe you should check again,” Jack said. Cooper barked to show he was in agreement with Jack’s suggestion.
The hostess served the plates from the cart, then scurried back to the galley to return, carrying a dish with a cover on top. Even from where he was sitting, Jack could read the note on the cover: SPECIAL FOOD . He didn’t need to lift the cover to know the plate held six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg. He looked down at Cooper and grinned. The dog barked twice, sharp
“First,” Annie said, “we’re going to have some breakfast. Eggs Benedict. Mimosas. Fresh Hawaiian coffee from Kona. Then we can get down to business and work on our plans.” The announcement was met with hoots of approval. They laughed outright when Annie said lunch would be shrimp scampi and beef medallions in a red wine sauce, basil risotto, and a fresh garden salad. Dinner, she went on to say, was going to be a surprise because the caterer had not told her what it was before boarding. “I’m sure it will meet with our approval. In the meantime, the coffee and wine are at your disposal.” More hoots of pleasure.
The group paired off. Alexis and Isabelle went to the back of the plane to start separating the outfits they would all don before disembarking in Hong Kong. Maggie and Ted had their heads together as Crescent China Tours tour leaders. Dennis settled himself next to Espinosa to talk about what he called the snatch and grab. “I hope those guys over there buy our cover that we’re doing a pictorial for the paper,” he fretted. Espinosa assured him they were pros, and neither one had a thing to worry about. “Listen, kid, everyone likes to have their picture taken and nice things written about them. That’s what we’re going to do. But first we’re going to have breakfast. And then we’ll map out our strategy.”
Harry and Yoko were huddled together whispering to each other. Cooper snoozed at their feet, happy and content.
Nikki and Kathryn sat side by side, speaking softly about the upcoming Christmas season, shopping, and decorating, while Myra, Annie, Charles, Fergus, and Jack shared what each knew about Buddhism and the monks at the monastery at Song Mountain in China—which wasn’t all that much, and more than anything was just a bunch of words to pass the time.
“I’m tired of talking about monks. Let’s decide what we’re going to buy when we get to Hong Kong. I think we girls should have some gowns made for our New Year’s Eve party,” Myra said.
“What party?” Charles and Fergus asked in unison.
Myra laughed. “Actually, it was Annie’s idea, and it is such a good idea, I immediately agreed. We want to have a party at the farm for all the people we’ve helped these past years. To see how they’re doing, to see if they need our special brand of help. Basically, to show them all we’re still here should they ever require our services in the future.”
“That’s a great idea, Annie. Count me in,” Jack said enthusiastically. “Are you sure you can fit everyone at the farm? It’s a very long list.”
“It may be a little crowded, but I don’t think anyone will mind. I’m going to bring it up after breakfast to see if everyone approves. If so, then Annie and I will get on it when we get back to the farm,” Myra said, glee ringing in her voice.
Further conversation came to a halt when the hostess appeared with the food trays.
Cooper bounded down the aisle and took up his position next to Jack as he waited for his plate. Jack leaned toward the dog just long enough for a thought to work its way through his head. “I think the dog wants six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg.”
The hostess blinked. “The food came already prepared. I don’t think anyone requested that kind of meal.”
“Maybe you should check again,” Jack said. Cooper barked to show he was in agreement with Jack’s suggestion.
The hostess served the plates from the cart, then scurried back to the galley to return, carrying a dish with a cover on top. Even from where he was sitting, Jack could read the note on the cover: SPECIAL FOOD . He didn’t need to lift the cover to know the plate held six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg. He looked down at Cooper and grinned. The dog barked twice, sharp
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