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Show miniture dolls from all over the world, and the hall had taken on warm glow. As soon as the attendant announced her flight to Pocatello, she hurried over to a check-in stand, hoping to be one of the first to get a seat assignment. On the plane she chose a window seat in a vacant row and was glad when no one sat next to her. It was a relief to leave the bustle of the airport and let the drone of the motors lull her to sleep. She clicked the metal ends of her seat belt together and shifted around in the seat, trying to get comfortable. But she couldn't sleep, partly because of the image of Pilar on the porch steps, so sad and and fragile seeming, and partly because she was looking forward to going home and seeing Woogie and her mother. Nervously, she smoothed the pleats in her skirt then ran her fingers over her hair. Even with jets of cool air blowing from the light panel above her, she could feel her wool sweater getting sticky with perspiration. By the time the plane bounce and skidded onto the icy runway in Pocatello, her heart was pounding. The wind blew glassy pricks of snow into her face as she climbed down the portable steps pushed against the plane. She wore no gloves and her hand froze as it grasped the metal stair rail. Even before she was inside the terminal, she spotted her mother peering anxiously through the terminal window. "Mom!" Kim called, breaking out of the line of passengers. She rushed over to her mother, throwing her arms 158 |