Chapter Eight

Holiday Zone

Jerry Chatworth looked anxiously out the airplane window, and then gazed lovingly at his daughter and wife in the two seats next to him. He had been looking forward to this holiday for a long time. His job as a social worker afforded him few luxuries. Traveling to Hawaii with his family made him feel proud. However, as he looked out the window, he felt troubled. Instead of seeing endless miles of ocean below, he saw a rugged terrain. Unknown to Jerry, the airplane was entering....a different kind of Holiday Zone.

Jerry looked around at the other passengers. Nobody seemed concerned. He noticed an elderly woman sitting in the seat behind him. She had a sketchbook and was busily drawing portraits of various passengers. The drawings looked pretty good, and she looked relaxed and happy. She did not notice Jerry, or so it seemed.

"Excuse me," interrupted Jerry, "are you taking a holiday in Hawaii?" The elderly woman looked at him in a puzzled but interested manner. "No," she replied, "I'm going to my new job in Drugfreeland. Whatever made you think of Hawaii? Is that where you're from?" Jerry suddenly felt sick. Either he was on the wrong airplane, or the elderly lady was, well, a nut. As a social worker, Jerry did not like to use language that made fun of the mentally ill, but this time he just could not help himself. He was really starting to feel stressed. Had he ruined his family's holiday by getting on the wrong airplane? And where or what was Drugfreeland?

The elderly woman sensed Jerry's confusion. "You know," she began, "these two seats next to me are empty. Why don't you come back here and we'll chat. I'll just move my drawings out of the way." Jerry set aside his doubts about the woman's mental stability, and welcomed the opportunity to find out what was going on. His instincts told him that the woman could be trusted.

Jerry maneuvered himself into the aisle seat in the elderly woman's row. "My name is Jerry," he said, "and that's my family in front of us. That's my wife, Loretta, and my daughter, Faith." The elderly woman smiled kindly, "My name is Hester Wright. I'm a semi-retired social worker. I quit my job last year. Since then I've been drawing and painting, trying to bring out my creativity which I thought I had lost over the years."

"What a coincidence," exclaimed Jerry, "I'm a social worker, too. Small world. I'm taking my family to Hawaii for a much deserved holiday." Hester peered over her eyeglasses, "You do realize that you are on the flight to Drugfreeland, don't you?" Now Jerry was certain that he was on the wrong airplane. How would he tell his family? It was not as if he could turn the airplane around and head back.

"Hester," said Jerry in a low tone so that his family could not hear, "I think I'm on the wrong airplane. I'm not going to Drugfreeland. In fact, I have never heard of such a place. What is it?" Hester began explaining how Drugfreeland was created in 2025 after the civil wars had divided the Continent into small nations. Nobody wanted the rugged terrain area because it could not be used for agriculture and it contained no natural resources. The abandoned land was claimed by a marijuana addict who lived there and detoxed himself. He was eventually joined by other addicts who wanted to live sober but could not find serious help in America or on the Continent.

Hester went on to explain that Drugfreeland was now the only country in the world where marijuana was still illegal. Drugfreeland was populated by recovering addicts and other people who wanted to raise their children in a drug-free environment. There were also several substance abuse treatment facilities that had developed, helping addicts from from all over the world. Hester had gotten a part-time job at one of the clinics. She had always loved working, but she also wanted to have time to follow her artistic calling.

Jerry was fascinated by Hester's explanations. Despite her age, Hester had a zest for life and a vision for her future. Jerry wondered if Hester would consider working for the new substance abuse clinic that he and another social worker were starting. "Wow," Jerry said while nodding his head in understanding, "I hear what you're saying about work and time and creativity. But what if you could go back to America and work under conditions similar to those in Drugfreeland?"

"I have a part-time private practice," continued Jerry, "and my good friend, Rose, has a full-time practice. I've known Rose for a long time. In fact, my daughter babysits Rose's twins. Anyway, we are also disturbed by the rampant marijuana addiction and society's acceptance of this as normal. Rose and I want to round up some expert therapists like yourself and build a clinic where addicts can get real help."

The two social workers sat and talked about psychological theories, therapy techniques, their disatisfaction with agency work, how much money they would need to live happily, and other details involved in starting an enterprise. Then the captain announced that the airplane would be landing in 30 minutes.

"Daddy, wake up, we're going to land," said a soft but firm voice. Jerry's face was pressed against the airplane window. He straightened up, ran his hands through his hair, and shook himself. He must have slept through the entire flight. He really needed this holiday. He looked out the window. Water. Lots of it. He looked over at his family. Then he looked at the seat behind him. The elderly woman was gone.

"Loretta, where is she?" Jerry asked. "Where is who?" queried his wife. "You know, the elderly lady who was sitting back there and drawing. I was talking to her for hours. She's gone." Loretta was both amused and worried. Jerry had been working long hours. He was really tired and he needed this trip to Hawaii. "You've been dreaming, Jerry. You'd better get your things together. We're almost ready to land. It's really going to happen, Jerry. Two weeks in Hawaii!"

Jerry started putting his books and things in his bag. He did not get the reading done that he had planned to do. As he gathered his things, he found a drawing. It was a sketch of himself, his wife and daughter. Hester, thought Jerry to himself. But, where is she? Drugfreeland, thought Jerry, she made it to Drugfreeland. Jerry almost wished he could have gone there with her. He could have learned so much. Maybe he would cross paths with Hester again someday, back home. (Written 11/08/04 - Reprinted 12/01/10)