afternoon shuttle

The old man, with his oddly limping gait, went out onto the front porch with his drink in hand, and sat down on one of the rocking chairs.  Some clouds had come up, with a nice breeze  that smelled like the forest.....right on time, there came the familiar double-boom from the sky....the three 0'clock shuttle from the spacestation.  He leaned back in the rocker and closed his eyes, accessing the tower-cam from the spaceport just outside of town....the shuttle came into view, shimmering in a heat-haze.....the gear went down, the airbrakes deployed.....the craft hit the runway with perfection, and coasted towards the terminal.  He switched his view to the arrival zone cam, and watched as the passengers came in through the gate.  A couple of techs with the Skyservice logo on their jumpers, and a whole class of high school students who had been doing a Summer school lab in the zero grav section of the station, and their teacher....all of these were locals he had seen before.....and there was a lady who looked like some kind of business rep....and coming last, of course, a slightly stooped elderly fellow....looking about as if somewhat confused....The old man clicked out of virtual, and opened his eyes.....he drained his glass, and went back inside.  If the old fart who had just landed didn't get lost somehow, he should be here in a half hour or so.....they would have to make sure all was ready for his welcome.....