Gate Change Read online

black font on the white paper made it appear bolder than it already did, but perhaps that was the embarrassment he felt creeping over him that highlighted such a basic error. "Looks like you still have time though, you'll just be heading further down the terminal and you will see Gate 27."

  "I can't say this has ever happened before," Brian took the ticket and stepped out of the way to allow the anxious travelers behind him to continue their boarding. Several were looking in disgust and frustration at him as if having found their seat a few moments earlier would make all the difference in an on time departure. "Gawkers?" he muttered as he stepped away.

  He began to briskly return to the main walkway of the terminal and joined the crowd, crossing the stream of passing travelers excited to have escaped their plane with only baggage claim between them and their final destination. Brian did not understand how such a mistake could have occurred and the more he thought of it the more confused he found himself. He looked once more at the ticket to confirm the time then stopped in his tracks.

  A child ran into him, breaking his focus.

  "Watch where you're going, buddy!" A parent rushed forward to claim their runaway child. "Sorry about that, it's his first trip and he's very excited," the father explained to Brian. "Now say sorry to the man and let's walk this time alright?"

  The boy rushed a "sorry" as best he could and eagerly continued his race to the gate, father in tow.

  Detroit. There was no way that he would have missed such an important detail on his itinerary and he was certain that a layover was not in the plan.

  "May we have your attention please, will Brian Ackers please report to Gate 19. Your flight has boarded and will be leaving shortly," a voice, sounding very much like Amy, declared over the intercom.

  Brian quickly turned around, almost bumping into a woman who was speedy enough to avoid a collision. "Watch it!" she angrily voiced.

  "Sorry," he briskly apologized as he joined the stream travelers headed to baggage claim to prevent further accidents. With Gate 19 in sight he left the main walkway and booked it straight to the counter.

  "Are you having trouble locating your gate sir?" questioned Amy, definitely the voice on the intercom.

  "No, however this is not my ticket. I am Brian Ackers and this is my flight," he explained, putting the ticket in front of her. She picked up the ticket, uncertain what he expected.

  "Alright, well I can't say I have heard of this before sir. Do you have your identification on you?" Brian pulled out his wallet and handed her his license.

  Amy stared at the card as added confusion appeared on her face. "I'm sorry sir but are you alright?"

  "I will be as soon as I'm landed in Orlando, flying already has me flustered and this is kind of freaking me out, and not to mention a bit embarrassing, but if it's alright with you and we can overlook this ticket thing I will be much better," he rambled, looking over his shoulder to see if any gawkers were about.

  "Let me make a quick phone call, if you could please have a seat I will be right with you and we will get this all fixed for you," explained Amy with a smile that seemed somewhat genuine but at the same time seemed a bit off.

  "It's quite alright, I don't mind standing."

  "Sir, can you please take a seat?" The smile was definitely off.

  Brian backed away, putting his hands up to show compliance. He stood by the boarding section as she picked up the phone, staring at him. She pointed at an open seat behind him as she waited for whomever she was contacting to answer her call. Not wanting to cause further alarm, Brian complied. Holding on to the arm and felt as though he were falling into a pit with no means of stopping himself.

  He stared at her as she conversed over the phone. How could this have happened? He ran through his trip thus far in his head beginning at the ticketing counter where he had bought his ticket to Orlando, requesting a non-stop flight. Perhaps the request was never fulfilled and he had in fact been given a layover? But then why would I have only been given one ticket and not a second?

  Amy hung up the phone and then began a second phone call, which Brian felt unusual. Though perhaps she was told to contact a different department, looks like even workers get the run around. He chuckled.

  "Will Gary Phelps please report to Gate 27?" At least I'm not the only one being called out.

  Amy hung up the phone a second time and quietly walked over to him, waving and providing a winning smile as she passed a family whose child was enthralled by her appearance. She sat next to Brian.

  "Thank you for your patience, sir, I have made a few phone calls and someone will be coming by to assist shortly. If you could please remain seated until they arrive it would be greatly appreciated."

  "I don't understand, what need is there to wait?" He glanced at his watch. "I cannot miss this flight and I do not want to be the guy to make everyone else late because of a silly mistake."

  "Unfortunately the plane will be leaving soon. We cannot have you board."

  Brian evaluated what was just stated.

  "I'm sorry? You cannot have me board?"

  "Sir, please calm down. Assistance will arrive shortly but until then I need you to stay seated. Now, if you will excuse me I need to begin procedures to close the gate on time," Amy began to stand.

  "Woah, what exactly is wrong that I cannot board? Look, just scan my boarding pass on my phone if it is such a problem, here you go!" He fumbled pulling out his phone and turned on the screen to find that his background had been changed. In addition to the unrecognized background he then realized he did not recognize the phone itself. "This isn't mine?" Brian began to fumble through his jacket.

  She turned to him. "I will not tell you this again, but I need you to stay seated and I am sure we will be able to work this out." She walked back to her pedestal, leaving Brian to the contents of his jacket.

  How did I not notice this before?

  Brian pulled out the black leather wallet which while similar to his own had differences that could have been caught earlier, like the metal grommets in the corners instead of the stitched corners his own had possessed. Opening the wallet, searching for an identification card, he paused as the name seemed oddly familiar. Surely the only explanation at this point was that he had grabbed the wrong jackets which meant that this Gary Phelps would be running into a similar issue elsewhere. Gary Phelps?

  Brian looked toward the pedestal and saw Amy busy with her terminal as she began her final tasks before closing the gate. It was either a brilliant idea or one that would quite possibly land him on the "No Fly List" but he did not fancy meeting whomever Amy had called to sort things out. He briskly hopped out of his seat and began his rush down the terminal.

  "Excuse me, sir? I need you to stay in your seat!" The commotion was about to begin and he wanted to clear his name before it reached him.

  As he briskly joined the crowd, Brian tried to recall what the ticket had said. He remembered Detroit and that the gate was in the 20s so he maintained his pace while looking at the departing flights on the gates. As he reached Gate 25 regret began to rush over him. Just as he was about to reach panic mode he saw a familiar jacket ahead, standing at the counter of Gate 27.

  "Hey!" Brian called out, causing heads to turn as he turned his brisk walk into a run, rushing to the man holding out a grey coat to the worker behind the counter, a coat complete with leather patched elbows. Both the man and the worker turned toward him in surprise.

  "I'm sorry sir but you will have to wait your turn," the worker stated, turning back toward the man.

  "Well look who it is," the man said. "I believe there has been a little mix up?" He held out the coat.

  Brian felt relief begin to push out the regret that was filling him. He pulled off the jacket and gave it to the man, who in turn gave his to Brian.

  "I'm sorry, Mr. Phelps, but is this related to the mix up?" The worker asked, confused.

  Brian quickly checked the contents of the pockets to ensure that it was indeed his coat as Gary confirm
ed what the worker was suspecting. He pulled out his ticket, as well as his wallet complete with stitched edging, and verified that they were indeed his. He also pulled out $10, and handed it to Gary. "I owe you this for drinks."

  "Drinking this early in the day?" Gary laughed, putting the money in the wallet.

  "This is a last call for Brian Ackers, Brian Ackers please report to Gate 19 as your flight is departing momentarily," Amy announced over the intercom.

  "It calms the nerves, though this certainly was not a help. I need to get back to my gate, but I am glad I caught you before you left and we were able to get this sorted out," Brian began to back away.

  "Quite the circumstance we have encountered. Fly safe, Brian," Gary held his hand out, which Brian returned to shake before turning around and racing back to Gate 19. The heads he had turned earlier had returned to other sights as passengers awaited their flights. Some returned to boredom while others found entertainment people watching or socializing and still others made their own entertainment with crossword puzzles and portable entertainment systems.

  With Gate 19 in view, Brian took a breath as he walked up to Amy, who was pointing him out to the security team that she was debriefing the situation to. Brian held out the ticket as well as his wallet, in officer fashion, flaunting his license.

  "Sir, we are going to need you to come with us," a lanky man, younger than he, strode up to him and demanded.

  "Look,