Alan stood at the baggage carousel, watching the people he had been sharing his personal space with for the past three hours each pick up their personal belongings and leave his life. The lady with the puffed-out reddish hair and the sequined american flag purse. The guy with the baby face and the farscape hat, with the sebaceous smudge on his glasses that Alan had had to fight the urge to wipe off the whole flight. The three businessmen who didn't know each other, but were more or less the same guy, and I'm sure would have gotten along famously, had they been introduced.
	Each one found their bag and left, never to be heard from again. Alan, despite the fact that he disliked all of these people, briefly wished for something like a yearbook or an alumnae update for the flight. Bob McGoving (17F) was recently promoted to regional supervisor. etc..
The logistics of that kept his brain busy for a few moments, distracting him from the fact that there were now only two pieces of luggage left on the carousel, and one other graduate of flight 314 standing, watching hopefully. The man (who Alan hadn't noticed on the actual flight, but he thought seemed like a pretty good guy) picked up his oversized duffel, and departed, leaving the mismatched pair of Alan and not-his-luggage do be alone for a few minutes, until the carousel stopped. Alan stared at the luggage that was distinctly someone else's. He took a deep breath and sighed, resigning himself to the fact that HIS luggage was most likely now lost, and it was going to be a longer night than he had expected.

	"We have confirmation of it making the connection at DFW; Are you SURE that that's not yours?"