The Great Escape

Weekend. Last week of April 2008. Vacation leave approved a week ago was recalled. A favored client demanded that an important transaction be accommodated. Approved leave was cancelled and amended to under time. Must report for work 7:30 to 11:30 AM Friday and accomplish without fail this client's request. An order that can not be refused. Reporting to work earlier than usual and in proper attire, my son reported to work with grim determination to accomplish the assigned task. A week earlier, before filing his approved vacation leave, he planned to fly to Singapore for an appointment with his lady Pastor and another erstwhile officemate and best friend now working in that Lion City. Without plans or hint of revealing what he's going to do or where he's going that weekend, he asked me to bring his travel bag to my office along with his plane ticket for his 2:50 PM trip. Nobody in his office must see his luggage, much more his plane ticket. We agreed to have our rendezvous outside the terminal where I'll hand over his luggage, plane ticket and pocket money before proceeding with his check-in. I almost wreck his trip when I arrived some 10 to 15 minutes before the check-in counter was closed for last minutes check-in of confirmed seat holders. He has already changed his office attire to his casual (sports) wear for travel. I got entangled in a traffic jam and took me some 35 to 40 minutes what usually took 10 to 15 minutes to reach the Airport Terminal Building . When his boarding pass was released, he wave it at the other side of the glass wall for me to see and a thumbs up sign to indicate he will be on board that flight. Flight time was 3 and ½ hours and 3 hours after landing at his destination, he called up at home and told us.. he's all right at his place of stay. His pastor meet him at the arrival area of Changi Airport and that evening he was at his best friend's apartment. The following day, he meet his pastor again for the day's activities- he was shown the city's environs and other places of interest. Discussed were plans not only of that week -end's activities but of the other long range plans and activities up ahead when he returns to that city, and the pastor's activities in Manila when she goes for vacation the following month. Late afternoon of Sunday, my son called up, he will be on board the first flight on Monday leaving Singapore at 2:30 AM and expected to arrive Manila at 4:00 AM. I was requested to meet him at the arrival area of Terminal 2 at NAIA and take his baggage at home. He will be reporting for duty at his office at 7:30 AM, already in his office uniform. He left and return, having been out of the country for 3 nights and 2 days without anybody at his office knowing he left. It was a great escape that almost didn't happen because of his office order to recall his approved vacation leave and partly to my arrival at the terminal beating check-in time by mere minutes before closing time. Thanks God it did happen.