YHIB-Ch 9:Lindsey

CHAPTER 9: Lindsey

"This show is somewhat pathetic." I said and Bandit nodded. I switched the channel from Barney to Spongebob Squarepants. "It's a bit better." I got up and went into the kitchen. The phone rang and I answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey Lindsey its Ashlee. Do you and Bandit want to fly out to Los Angeles and spend a few days with Bronx and I? With the boy's gone Bronx gets board of Hemingway and I'm sure Bandit would be delighted." She sounded tired and restful. I guess Bronx isn't up yet. Bandit and Bronx loved each other. He was almost five and her almost three.
"Yes Bandit and I would love too!"
"Excellent! I believe there is an 11:15 flight out if JFK." I looked at the clock. It read 8:45 A.M. "We should be there around mid afternoon your time. And what are you doing up at almost six on a Saturday? Doesn't Bronx sleep in?" I asked.
"Yeah. I couldn't sleep. Pete usually keeps me in bed. Hemingway was crying. I guess he figured out Pete was going to be gone his longest ever without taking him along." She yawned.
"Haha well you sound like you could use some sleep." I laughed out.
"Yeah I probably am. I'm going to take a nap while you get on that plane."
"Okay" My voice didn't sound as dreary anymore. We said our goodbyes and hung up. "Bandit." Her little head popped up from behind the couch. "We're going to see Bronx today."
"BRONX!" She tumbled off the couch and stood in a "macho man" position. "Mini Gee to the ready!" She shouted and ran to her room to get ready. Frank gave her the Killjoy nickname.
I laughed and smiled. "It's like still having Gerard around." I put Bandit in black leggings, a purple t-shirt with black skulls, little black boots, a leather jacket and a purple bow. I packed everything while she watched Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest in the living room. I had everything packed and ready by 9:22.
"Yo, the name is Batty, the logic is erratic, potato in a jacket, toys in the attic, I rock and I ramble…" Bandit sang along to the humorous lyrics sung by Robin Williams. "It's good to see children of the pop age still into older type things like Kim Possible instead of iCarly, or The Beatles instead of Lady Gaga, The Secret of NIMH instead of High School Musical, etc…" I thought watching Bandit. "Or maybe it's just selective children with good parents." I remember putting Bandit in a daycare for a day once before I had a hired babysitter. Kids from toddlers to about ten had cell phones, they were texting. And the clothes the teenage employees wore... "Ugh" I thought remembering that time.
I called a taxi. I sat and watched the movie with Bandit till I heard a knock at the door. "Time to go, Bandit." She climbed off the couch. I got her car seat all set up and we were ready to leave. Hour and a half drive to the airport then six hours on a plane. I sighed. I can't remember the last time I saw Ashlee. The drive was silent. The driver was Arab I was guessing. I didn't look closely.
Once we arrived I paid him. I set Bandit down so I was able to carry the luggage. "Hold on tight and stay close." I warned her. It was packed in the airport. I gulped. I was afraid of losing her. I had an idea. I picked Bandit up and set her on the suitcase. "Hold on really tight. I don't want you to fall off." I told her. We waited on line to get our tickets.
"Flight 279 to Los Angeles departs in ten minutes." I heard the loud speaker say. We would make it. I made a mental check list as I walked from the counter. "Luggage-check, tickets-check, Bandit-check, Ger-…" I cut myself off. I usually had to locate him because he was surrounded by fan girls. I cleared my head when going though the metal detector. "Embarking flight-check."
We took our seats on the airplane. Bandit got a car seat type thing and the window seat just so I could easily keep an eye on her. She listened to her iPod. I put on Savages from Pocahontas for her. I wasn't really paying attention until I heard a familiar voice. It was coming from next to me. Bandit had fallen asleep and her headphones fell out. I looked at Now Playing. Bulletproof Heart… I wanted to start crying.
Six hours went by painfully.
We arrived in Los Angeles at around three o'clock with our luggage. Vincent, the Wentz's butler was waiting for me. "Good afternoon Mrs. Way."
"Please." I shook his hand. "Call me Lindsey." We got into the Hummer, Bandit in her third car seat of the day. Arrival at the Wentz's mansion didn't take long. Ashlee came to the door.
"Ahh Lindsey, you look great!" She hugged me. We talked as we walked into the loft. I set Bandit down.
"BANDIT!"
"BRONX!" She ran over to him and tackled him. "Give me your lunch money, Freshman."
"What's a Freshman?"
"I don't know my daddy says." Ashlee and I burst out laughing.
"Looks like Bandit's been hanging around Gerard and Mikey too long." We sat and caught up. I was hopeful I would get my mind off him these next couple of days.