Bored. The Other Side. Seventeen. Home. Standby. Sleep.
I. BORED
I was sitting there Monday night, bored out of my mind and wishing the flights the following day weren't so booked. It had been a while since I had seen my family and a day trip home sounded divine. I boarded the passengers, wishin I was one of them and closed my flight. My supervisor (the one I never believed I would get along with) chats with me for a bit and after a while he offers to help me try and see if flying the following day is even possible.
He dinks around with the dates and stations and comes to the same conclusion. Booked solid. But he also notices the last flight to Atlanta has seats. He even offers to ket me go early and before I know it I've gone from wishing it was me ont he plane to being on the plane.
II. THE OTHER SIDE
Sitting in my business class seat and sipping my complimentary Sprite, I felt odd, as if it were a daydream that was just a touch too real. I knew exactly what was going on on the other side of the plane. I knoew the team, the duties and what each sound was. As we taxied out to the top of the alley, I knew what was happening each and every moment while those around me stared out the windows in faint puzzlement.
Then we were off like a rocket and a little while later, I was in Atlanta with a nine hour layover. Time to find a cozy spot and get comfortable.
III. SEVENTEEN
I saw her as I was coming out of the bathroom, lugging my backpack and brandishing the giant A symbol that is my airline's logo. She was following me, trying hard to not look lost, but failing. Finally I stopped infront of a screen, not needing to look at it, but giving her a chance to catch up and an easy point to break the ice.
"Do you work for this airline?" What other option was there but to say yes? I was practically a walking billboard for it, not that I minded. She had a southern drawl and bright blue eyes and I thought, hell, a little company might make the night fly by.
I helped her out, ansering her questions and guiding her around to the gate where she needed to be, coincidently, my gate was two down from hers. I sat with her for a few minutes and then made ready to head to my own gate when she started asking me random questions about my job. Stuff people like to know, like what's the worst part? (Lavs). And what's the best part? (Getting a pat on the back from your teammates because you pulled thorugh).
I stayed, chatting for a while, learned she was seventeen and it was her first time flying. She'd gotten a buddy pass from a friend who was a flight attendant who had left her to fend for herself when she was bumped. She appreciated the wing and I stayed with her until she boarded her flight, then headed to my own gate where it was almost time.
IV. Home
I slept on the flight home, and woke about ten minutes prior to landing. I was happy that I wouldn't have to wait from my luggage and met my dad by the escalators. Every time I make an unexpected trip home, I can always count on him to pick me up and keep mom in the dark. So we toodled home, giving me time to soak in the sights I missed so much. I-69. Road cones. Angry drivers. It was all so beautiful.
My sisters, also being in cahoots with my father and I, had gotten my mother upstairs in my old room, pretending interest in busywork. I snuck up the stairs, listened for a few moments and then made my entry, walking in briskly to ask my mother if she'd found my blasted boots. The look on hte face was priceless and she'd sat shock upright as though a bolt of electricity had zapped her.
I spent the day running errands, doing a little shopping and banking and catching up with the family. Caught a little sleep around seven that night and was up again at midnight. We had a family dinner at the Iron Horse, played a little pool and then it was time for me to be on my way.
V. STANDBY
I don't need to go into details about my flight back to A-town. It was uneventful and absolutely mundane. Just the way I like it. I found my gate and hoped like the dickens there was still room for me on it. Thankfully there was just a little bit of room and I was the last stand-by allowed on and just like that I was as good as in Boston again.
I can't say my seating was the best, sandwiched in a middle seat with no way to really sleep, but I was too happy to be on the flight at all which meant I'd be in early and could get some of my day off to myself.
VI. SLEEP
You can guess what this chapter is about. Yep. I slept. A lot. And that pretty much sums it up.
I was sitting there Monday night, bored out of my mind and wishing the flights the following day weren't so booked. It had been a while since I had seen my family and a day trip home sounded divine. I boarded the passengers, wishin I was one of them and closed my flight. My supervisor (the one I never believed I would get along with) chats with me for a bit and after a while he offers to help me try and see if flying the following day is even possible.
He dinks around with the dates and stations and comes to the same conclusion. Booked solid. But he also notices the last flight to Atlanta has seats. He even offers to ket me go early and before I know it I've gone from wishing it was me ont he plane to being on the plane.
II. THE OTHER SIDE
Sitting in my business class seat and sipping my complimentary Sprite, I felt odd, as if it were a daydream that was just a touch too real. I knew exactly what was going on on the other side of the plane. I knoew the team, the duties and what each sound was. As we taxied out to the top of the alley, I knew what was happening each and every moment while those around me stared out the windows in faint puzzlement.
Then we were off like a rocket and a little while later, I was in Atlanta with a nine hour layover. Time to find a cozy spot and get comfortable.
III. SEVENTEEN
I saw her as I was coming out of the bathroom, lugging my backpack and brandishing the giant A symbol that is my airline's logo. She was following me, trying hard to not look lost, but failing. Finally I stopped infront of a screen, not needing to look at it, but giving her a chance to catch up and an easy point to break the ice.
"Do you work for this airline?" What other option was there but to say yes? I was practically a walking billboard for it, not that I minded. She had a southern drawl and bright blue eyes and I thought, hell, a little company might make the night fly by.
I helped her out, ansering her questions and guiding her around to the gate where she needed to be, coincidently, my gate was two down from hers. I sat with her for a few minutes and then made ready to head to my own gate when she started asking me random questions about my job. Stuff people like to know, like what's the worst part? (Lavs). And what's the best part? (Getting a pat on the back from your teammates because you pulled thorugh).
I stayed, chatting for a while, learned she was seventeen and it was her first time flying. She'd gotten a buddy pass from a friend who was a flight attendant who had left her to fend for herself when she was bumped. She appreciated the wing and I stayed with her until she boarded her flight, then headed to my own gate where it was almost time.
IV. Home
I slept on the flight home, and woke about ten minutes prior to landing. I was happy that I wouldn't have to wait from my luggage and met my dad by the escalators. Every time I make an unexpected trip home, I can always count on him to pick me up and keep mom in the dark. So we toodled home, giving me time to soak in the sights I missed so much. I-69. Road cones. Angry drivers. It was all so beautiful.
My sisters, also being in cahoots with my father and I, had gotten my mother upstairs in my old room, pretending interest in busywork. I snuck up the stairs, listened for a few moments and then made my entry, walking in briskly to ask my mother if she'd found my blasted boots. The look on hte face was priceless and she'd sat shock upright as though a bolt of electricity had zapped her.
I spent the day running errands, doing a little shopping and banking and catching up with the family. Caught a little sleep around seven that night and was up again at midnight. We had a family dinner at the Iron Horse, played a little pool and then it was time for me to be on my way.
V. STANDBY
I don't need to go into details about my flight back to A-town. It was uneventful and absolutely mundane. Just the way I like it. I found my gate and hoped like the dickens there was still room for me on it. Thankfully there was just a little bit of room and I was the last stand-by allowed on and just like that I was as good as in Boston again.
I can't say my seating was the best, sandwiched in a middle seat with no way to really sleep, but I was too happy to be on the flight at all which meant I'd be in early and could get some of my day off to myself.
VI. SLEEP
You can guess what this chapter is about. Yep. I slept. A lot. And that pretty much sums it up.