One Up

Chapter 4

"Now boarding for Seattle Washington. Please make your way to the boarding area. Flight 204 leaves in approximately thirty minutes," the flight attendant says over the airport intercom. My heart begins to race with anxious excitement. I'm finally going to do it!

"Now remember Samantha, this is your first flight. It is okay to be a bit... nervous," my mother says, a note of worry in her own voice. Rachael giggles beside me.

"Don't worry Sam. The worst part about your first flight is the take off. You'll be okay."

"I'm sure I'll be okay. I'm more excited than nervous," I respond, an unconvincing smile appearing on my face. I was truly anxious, I'll admit.

We reach the boarding area and give the flight attendant our boarding passes. As we tread inside the plane with our carry-on, I notice that walking into the cavern is like walking into a different atmosphere entirely. It's almost like a floating movie theater. Of course.. without the big movie screen.

"Come now, Sam. Let's take our seats," my mother says, snapping me out of a my thoughts. Rachael takes my arm and gently leads me to our seats.

Our seats are closest to the windows. My mom sits behind us. Rachael ushers me into ours, moving me close to the window. I look at her in question.

"Wouldn't you like the window seat?" I ask. Rachael shakes her head. "It's your first time on a plane. Everyone needs the window seat their first time. Don't worry, I've enjoyed it plently." Rachael smiles at me reassuringly. I nod, giving her a warm smile back before taking the seat near the window.

I watch Rachael as she sits beside me. She looks around curiously throughout the plane. It was her curiosity that made us friends... after all.

If she never wondered about why I was crying the day I found out about my brother... if she wasn't there to comfort me, we would have never been friends. The ding of the intercom alerts me to the front of the plane, where the Pilot dressed in blue holds a small microphone.

"Welcome passengers of Flight 204, headed non-stop to Seattle! I am your Aviator, Huron and I'll help you get to your destination this evening!" The aviator says over the intercom. A few people hoot in response. I smile.

"Now, please know that this is a seven hour flight. Refreshments and food will be provided during the duration. If you feel sick, don't be afraid to grab a baggie, and if you find yourself nervous, hold onto the person closest to you." Small giggles resonate throughout the cavern.

"Now, sit back, relax, and above all, thank you for choosing American Airlines!" he finishes before retreating to the cockpit.

A small round of clapping from the passengers fills the cabin. Rachael takes my hand. "This is the hard part," she says.

I feel my heart pound nervously as the engines start. Within moments, the plane lurches backwards, pulling away from the terminal. I watch out the window as it starts forward, taxiing down the taxiway.

A lurch later and I feel the cabin shutter as the plane picks up speed on the runway. My stomach churns with the force. I look outside as the asphalt and building blurs, everything coming together before the plane lifts off.

My stomach turns slightly with the upward motion. I push it down, focusing on how small Harrisburg International gets as we rocket into the clouds. I find it fascinating, watching cars turn smaller than ants... smaller than fleas, until they are so small that everything fades into colors of green, grey, and the colorful canvas the setting sun creates within the sky.

Rachael was right, I needed this my first time.

"What do you think?" she questions beside me. I smile, turning my fascination away from the ever changing colors.

"It's beautiful... absolutely beautiful, Rachael." I say in amazement. She smiles back.

"I knew you would like it Sam."

I feel a stinging in my eyes and realize I'm on the verge of tears. Not sadness... not even anger. For once, I feel happy. I feel truly happy. Happy that things are changing. Happy that I'm doing things with my life.

...and most importantly, happy I have my mother and my best friend beside me through it all.

We reach cruising altitude within minutes. I watch as the 'remain seated' light clicks off-kind of like in the movies. My eyes follow as the flight attendant walks over to the hall separating the first class section from the common class, her long blonde hair swaying as she walks. She presses a button and the intercoms ding.

"Hello passengers of flight 204! You are free to walk about the cabin as we've reached cruising altitude. Please enjoy your flight, and again, thank you for choosing American Airlines!"

No one hoots this time, but Rachael stretches, taking advantage of moving about the cabin. I watch as she rises and proceeds to the restroom.

I sit back before closing my eyes. I'll be spending a few days in what will feel like a new world. I will meet people from all over the world. I may not make the top twenty players, but I will definitely try.

To me, trying is all that matters.