The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 59—411111
1
left for a look. Logic has no place in
my thoughts. No matter how heavy
the plane, how many passengers are
aboard or how many pounds of cargo
are loaded, 1 know if I lean too far to
the left, I will tip the precarious
balance of this huge monster and
we'll all go hurtling to the ground in
an uncontrollable spin. I remain rigid
in my seat. Even the smiling
attendant admits defeat and leaves me
to my fears.
Somewhere in the course of the
flight, I become aware of
mechanical problems. I realize
a strange rattling noise is coming
from the floor — could this be metal
fatigue? Maybe the whole plane is
beginning to shake apart. I look
around to see if anyone else is aware
of this predicament. The crew and
other passengers seem to remain
blissfully ignorant. At about the same
time I notice there appears to be a
trail of flame streaming from the left-
most engine. No one else is
commenting on these potential
disasters. Is that fixed smile on the
steward's face a mask to Hide the fact
that he knows we're doomed? Why
don't I cry out a warning? Because if
there's one thing that terrifies me
more than flying; it's the thought of
being made to look a fool. Let's face
it, I'd rather die from a fiery death in
a lost airliner than to expire from
embarrassment.
By the time we've landed and
taxied to the arrival gate. I've
regained a little of my equilibrium
and a few of my senses. I fall into the
welcome arms of my daughter. She
looks at me and says with concern
"Are you all right? You look a little
shaky." I struggle to strike a carefree
pose and continue with my ongoing
subterfuge. I have never let my
family become aware o`' my flight
phobia, relying instead on wild
imaginative reasons to avoid flying.
"Ot' course", I say airily, "It was
an uneventful flight."
"Great" she says, "We have a
surprise. Remember I told you Chuck
was taking flying lessons. He just
passed his flight test and has his
licence. We're borrowing a small
plane from a friend and taking you on
a trip to the Island to spend the
weekend. Won't that be fun? Mom
... Mom ...?"0
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SEPTEMBER 2000 55