Home Is Where The Heart Is

By Jerry Reynolds

Sean woke early, his bags packed and waiting by the door.

The feisty willows outside his condo were having rough sex with a biting spring breeze. Young petals on the cherry tree’s clung to new twigs.

Spring had come late again this year. Global warming gave winter permission to refuse to leave. Politicians were still talking way past the time for listening. He poured himself a cup of Yesterdays-Coffee and put it in the microwave. Sipping his coffee and watching the show outside, Sean thought, ‘It will be two springs before I see this again, if at all.’ The bell rang before he finished his coffee. It was his Uber ride to the Long Island Railroad. The intergalactic development company he worked for was too cheap to provide employees with a car.

***

Bill, the conductor, a familiar face, collected his pass. Seeing the go-bag, he asked, “You on another space flight?”

“Yes, I am going to Icarus-1. We are developing a resort for tourism.”

“How long this time?”

“Two years.”

“Wow, that’s a long stretch. How is it out there?”

“Beautiful Bill. The air is pure, and you can see every star in the universe. I acquired some land on a lake the last time I was out there. Thinking about building a cabin while I am gone. Icarus has seasons. It’s cold and rocky, but the springs and summers are mild and pleasant.”

“Will you be selling your Condo?”

“Thinking about leasing it. You interested?”

“The wife and I are looking for something larger.”

“Making a family Bill?”

“Yes, we are.”

Handing Bill a card, Sean said, “This is my real estate broker. We can talk about leasing with an option to buy.”

“So you are serious about moving to a small planet in another solar system?”

“They will need construction workers, and home is where the heart is, Bill. Home is where the heart is.”