The Flying Otter

"You're not the only one around here who can fly, Barnum," said Otty, triumphantly, as he was packed into Julie's suitcase at 5:15 am. Barnum shrugged, gave Otty a goodbye hug, and went back to sleep. A little later Otty stretched his legs and toured the Admiral's Club at O'Hare. He thought about the adventure ahead - his first documentary film festival! He'd studied the schedule carefully, and was especially excited about a couple films - a history of wartime/battlefield cooks (did they find a way to bake cookies? what a morale-booster that would be for the soliders!) and that one about the prestigious beard and moustache competition in Germany. He also planned to order a ginger ale on the plane, and anticipated telling Barnum all about how it wouldn't cost a single cent. "It's freeeeee!" he imagined explaining to his friend. "Free as a bird. An owl-bird, that is."

Otty also wondered if the hotel would have a swimming pool. He hoped so, with all of his might. Then he hit the mini-muffin bar one last time, before Julie packed him back up and headed to the gate.