The Ghost of St. Elmo Page 2
CHAPTER TWO
FLYING HIGH
“Ding, Ding.” I looked up to see the “No Smoking” sign lit up and the aisles emptying as all the passengers and crew settled into their seats and readied for our take off. We started moving slowly as the plane’s engines began to roar, and the entire plane started to shake slightly and lurch forward as we rolled faster and faster taxiing toward our takeoff runaway. You could hear the engines speed up and then slow down as we continued to taxi, until finally, we made a sharp right turn and stopped. I got a little braver and pulled up the shade on my window to see why we had stopped. As I did so, I was astounded to see at least five planes going in different directions. They were either jockeying for takeoff positions, had just landed or were already in the air. I rested my head against the window and strained to see what was up ahead of us. I could feel the plane begin to tremble and the engines’ roar became deafening. The plane’s belly felt as though it was lifting into the air. I could feel the plane’s brakes release, and we began to accelerate down the runway faster and faster. As it did so, the vibration and noise became scarier and scarier to me. I looked over to see Charles with his head resting on the back of the seat and his eyes closed. I guessed everything was normal, and I continued looking out the window. We were suddenly lifted into the air, and I could see the ground below getting further and further away. The engines’ roar began to subside, and the vibration was hardly noticeable. However, I could see we were climbing very steeply, and I could feel it as I was pushed to the back of my seat. The plane began to level off after a few minutes, and I closed my eyes in relief. As I did, my mind wandered back to the orphanage and my best friend, Zack.
We weren’t just good buddies, but we were a team. Zack’s family had been killed in a car wreck, and his two aunts were unable to take care of him because they were both disabled. He became a ward of the state and then was sent to Green Acres Orphanage. There were about 60 boys and girls there at the time, but numbers changed quickly due to adoptions and new additions. Zack and I were two of the older kids and, as such, we realized our chances of being adopted were pretty slim. I suppose because of our realization we became each other’s own family and best buddies. We had some great adventures together, and I wished we could share this one coming up in Colorado. But, we couldn’t. Oh, well. I continued staring out the window until I was forced to close the shade because of a huge fireball of a sun that was blinding me.
“Ding, Ding,” the fasten seat belt sign went off, and I happily unfastened mine, as did Charles. “Well, Ian, you made your first takeoff just fine,” Charles said. “How did it feel?”
“It wasn’t bad at all,” I answered, not wanting him to know how I really felt. I had been scared to death at first, but that feeling soon left me. I could hear talking and laughing in the aisle up in front of us, and I peered nosily at what was happening. There were two attendants pushing a cart filled with cans of soda pop and other drinks, joking and serving them to any passengers that wanted them. I was thirsty and waited patiently as they moved up to our seats. I asked for a Coke, and Charles was served up a Gingerale along with which we both received two small bags of peanuts. We settled back in our seats and got comfortable knowing we had a long flight ahead of us. I soon found myself nodding off and rested my head against the cool window.
I must have slept for quite awhile when suddenly I was jolted awake, almost being knocked out of my seat. An announcement from the captain came over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing some turbulence due to upper air disturbances. Please fasten your seat belts until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Just a precaution, Ian,” Charles reassured me. “We’re coming close to the Rocky Mountain range, and you frequently get strong air currents that will move a plane around.” I wondered if I had slept that long. The Rocky Mountains…we’d soon be landing, and my adventure would begin. Shortly, the captain came over the speakers again….
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be arriving in Colorado Springs in approximately 25 minutes. We have begun our descent so please keep your seat belts fastened. The weather upon our arrival will be snow flurries and 39 degrees. It has been a pleasure to serve as your captain, and I want to thank you for flying Southwest Airlines. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
“You must have been tired,” Charles said. “I’ll bet you slept at least four hours.”
“I guess I was. I can’t believe we’re here already.” Looking out of the window, I could see snow covered highways, dotted with cars and trucks. As we descended closer and closer, the snow flurries became thicker, and the mountains began to rise up and meet us. The engines began their roar once again, and I could feel the plane slow up as if the brakes had been put on. The nose of the plane began to point downward as we banked to the right and began our approach to the runway below. The ground appeared to rush up at us at a rapid pace as we hit with a great “thud,” and the sound of rubber tires squealing along the cement runway filled the cabin. Here we were, finally. Colorado…here I am.