Prompt from http://writingfix.com/ - Daily creative writing exercise. Fiction!
"You're given a free airline ticket to anywhere in the world. Your choice. Explain where you'd go and why."
The news came unexpectedly. I stared at the gift, the free airline ticket that I could use to go anywhere. At first I didn't believe it was real; it was like winning a contest that I hadn't played. However, I hadn't won a prize. The ticket had come from a little-known organization with the rather novel goal of fostering international communication between ordinary people. They provided the tickets for two plus a translator to anywhere, with the caveat that you couldn't use the ticket to go to an insulated resort.
I mulled over the possibilities. I knew I wanted to go somewhere I had never been before, so I immediately crossed England and Europe from my list. Main contenders were: Melbourne; New Zealand; Beijing; Hong Kong; South America; and Africa. It was going to be a difficult decision.
Melbourne was an obvious candidate. I have family there: my stepbrother who just turned twenty. I haven't seen him for a few years now. My dad and stepmother lived in Melbourne for a few years when my dad took a job over there, and when they came back, my stepbrother chose to stay behind. He'd reached the age when he needed to be on his own. He's still struggling, but through the grapevine I hear he's doing better and maturing a lot. Besides seeing my stepbrother, I generally wanted to see Australia. It had the added advantage of being in the southern hemisphere, where I would be able to see the southern constellations for the first time, another long-time wish.
New Zealand was another good possibility. Watching Xena and Hercules episodes had seen to that. Though the television shows were fictional, the landscapes and scenery were most certainly real. The countryside was more than impressive; it was breathtaking. I wanted to see it in person.
As for Beijing, I had once promised a Chinese friend I would visit her there someday. We met in England when I was studying over there. Her home town was Beijing, where she worked as a translator for the agricultural ministry. Although we're always so daunted by China and its political situation today, the friendship had reminded me that people there are just like people everywhere else. It would be good to finally visit her and to see some of the famous tourist attractions, too.
Hong Kong sounded fascinating for similar reasons. It sounded exciting -- a thriving, busy city with lots of fabulous food, if I could believe the special I'd watched hosted by Jackie Chan. Of course, I probably wouldn't have Jackie to play tour guide and defend me from nefarious gangsters, but I figured I could manage. I'd want to be able to speak a little Chinese first, however.
South America and Africa were both lower on my list. I wanted to see both for about the same reasons: as with Australia, both would give me an opportunity to see southern hemisphere constellations; both were new places for me to visit; both had interesting natural preserves that would be well-worth seeing. The main drawback to both places was the threat of violence - unstable countries with a tendency to war or unstable political atmospheres. Either expedition would require a lot more research.
I reviewed my options. However, before I could choose, the sponsor called. I discovered there wouldn't be a trip after all. They had to cancel the program because they were concerned about the deadly virus that has been spreading, particularly in Asia; they were also concerned about increased danger due to the war in Iraq. All flights were cancelled. My trip would have to wait for another time.
It was too good to be true, anyway. But I still liked the program's goal. We could all do with meeting ordinary people in other places. Of course, I already knew that people abroad weren't that different from people at home. Maybe next time the tickets would go to someone who really needed that lesson.
by Christy Devonport