Some readers thought the rude airplane guy might be Cub. I think I changed his design in the trade-paperback remastering, to make the resemblance less dramatic.
And so we arrive in “the reason why I have a whole folder of reference photos for Chicago.” Walker’s earlier Shine incarnation is based in the same city, so it seems likely it was a reference to Little Orphan Annie being created for the Chicago Tribune.
This seems to be going well, so let’s switch scenes.
In the near future, on an international flight . . .
Plane guy: Hey there, little lady, wake up! Your meal’s here.
Jany: Wh-what? Oh . . . thanks.
Plane guy: First time taking a flight all by yourself?
Jany: . . . No?
Plane guy: Really! At your age?
Jany: I’m almost eighteen.
Plane guy: Is that so? Well! Your English is very good!
(twitch)
Jany (thinking): When does this flight end?
Chicago O’Hare Airport.
Jany: Walker’s Being is supposed to pick us up.
Kara Lynn: I’ll keep an eye out.
Ann’s Being: Found her. The girl is, as her name suggested, South Asian. Her Being — female-formed — appears East Asian, although notably tall and busty.
Sure, boss. I’m on it.
Excuse me? Are you Jany Balachandran?
ha! one time I was on my way home from a conference on the other side of the planet, and I can’t remember what shitty things had actually happened (likely some combo of sleep-deprived headache, the airline losing my special meal *again*, and whatever drama happened at the con) but on the second flight, someone sitting near me just assumed I must be missing my mum. 🤦
even back when I was actually flying as an UM (in which case the flight attendants were always super nice and took good care of me) that, uh, was not an issue. I was the kid who brought a pack of cards (in addition to my stash of solo entertainment) and made friends on the plane.