2250. Flight emergency

When Benjamin awoke from his nap he heard the flight attendant announce: Does any passenger know how to fly a plane? The captain and vice-captain have both passed out. Please make sure your seat belts are fastened, you seat is upright, and your tray-table is folded away.

It was to be a long flight, and the plane clearly was on auto-pilot. It didn’t look like anyone had volunteered. Everyone went white and remained seated. You’d think some people would have screamed, but instead there was an eerie silence.

Benjamin had his pilot’s licence but it had lapsed years ago. He had flown only light aircraft. In fact he couldn’t recall even having been in the cockpit of a commercial passenger plane. All those lights and knobs! However, a little knowledge was possibly better than nothing. He stood and made his way to the front of the plane.

First things first, he said to the flight attendant. We have to radio some air control people and say we’re on autopilot and the pilot is possibly dead. They might be able to tell us what to do; what buttons to push, what switches to switch. Perhaps they might even be able to perform a landing by remote control.

Benjamin grabbed the microphone and announced: Does anyone know how to operate the radio so we can contact the ground and get instructions?

Arnold in Seat 22A was a radio ham. He had been a keen radio buff when he was at high school years ago. He stood and made his way to the front of the plane.

That was when 90 year old Mabel Partridge stood. “You can’t go to the bathroom now, ma’am,” said the flight attendant. “I’m sorry but you must remain seated.”

Mabel wasn’t taking no for an answer. She hobbled to the front of the plane and said “Step aside”. She had been a commercial airline pilot in her younger days. She took over. It was a flawless landing.

In the ocean.

2175. Long flight

Edwina’s mother lived a sixteen-hour flight away. These days her mother was doing poorly. Edwina’s husband, Frazer, insisted that Edwina fly to see her mother. Edwina hated flying, but she agreed.

Frazer and Edwina lived way in the country. The airport was a good four-hour drive. Couple that with the sixteen hour flight and it was going to be a long day.

Edwina drove the car. It required a bit of movement as opposed to sitting in the passenger seat doing nothing. She would have enough of doing nothing on the plane.

They arrived at the airport. The plane was boarded. The plane took off.

The long flight was both boring and uneventful.

Upon arrival, Edwina collected her belongings. It was then she discovered the car keys in her pocket.

Music 396: Fantails

Here is a piece of music called “Fantails”. It is for oboe and piano. See yesterday’s blog story for further details!

Fantails (for oboe and piano) – audio HERE, sheet music HERE.

1440. Reincarnated

Fenwick had always believed in reincarnation. He wanted to come back as a hawk.

Imagine that, floating high in the sky, swirling about, covering huge distances with barely a flap of a wing. And so agile in the air!

And he did! He returned as a hawk! During his first flight he got shot. Dead.

1218. Fly from the nest

Gretel was a baby magpie. Her little brother was Alecsandre. They were together in a nest near the top of a pine tree. Their mother and father spent all day bringing them food.

Gretel loved it when a breeze blew the branches back and forth, back and forth. Wheeee!

And then the time came to leave the nest. Alecsandre left first. Gretel stepped up to the edge of the nest.

“No one told me we were this high up in the air,” said Gretel. “It’s terrifying.”

“Don’t be such a baby,” said Alecsandre, flying back to the nest. “Just jump.”

“Jump?” screamed Gretel. “I’ll fall to the ground and die.”

“You won’t,” said Alecsandre. “You’ll fly.”

“I can’t,” said Gretel.

Alecsandre gave Gretel a push. She flew.

“Look at me!” marvelled Gretel. “I am flying like an eagle!”

But she wasn’t flying like an eagle at all, silly. She was flying like a magpie!

“Another wretched magpie,” said Farmer Jasper aiming his gun.

Poem 33: Take flight

(The poetic form selected for this month is the ghazal, and this is the last one for the time being!)

Godwits wade, and in late summer light, take flight.
Gulls on beaches, crowds in black and white, take flight.

Old owls wake at dusk and opening wide each eye
(Stealthy phantom hunters of the night) take flight.

Nectar-feeding bellbirds in white blossom trees,
Hearing gravel footsteps near, take fright, take flight.

Raptors rip apart a captured careless hare;
Falcon, eagle, vulture, hawk and kite, take flight.

Ducks waddle in a hapless clumsy manner,
But unmindful of their shuffling plight, take flight.

Dodos without wings were stuck upon the ground;
Bruce’s blogging friends, with visions bright, take flight.

To hear the poem read aloud click HERE.

755. White swan’s eggs

Lynette was absolutely crapping herself. She knew what she was doing was illegal. She sat in the air flight for sixteen hours worried silly.

Back home she had a lake. It was a beautiful lake at the end of sprawling lawns with weeping willows. There was one thing the lake lacked: white swans. There were no white swans in the country, only black ones. Black swans weren’t as graceful as white swans. Oh for white swans gliding on the lake!

Lynette had hidden three swan’s eggs in her luggage. She could get fined thousands of dollars if Customs officials discovered them. Why had she done it? Why? Why? The flight home was sixteen hours of pure stress. Perhaps she should own up to it.

The plane landed. Lynette collected her luggage and proceeded to pass through Customs.

“You’re fine,” said the Customs official waving her through without even checking.

You’ve no idea! You’ve no idea! The relief! Oh! The relief! Lynette was over the moon. All she needed now was an incubator.

Anyway, the next morning Lynette’s husband had them for breakfast.

Listen the story being read HERE!

672. This is your captain speaking

Wanda and Lawrence decided on a mission. After a 16-hour flight, they were in a bar in LA having a relaxing drink. Wanda had been the pilot and Lawrence a flight attendant.

Did either belong to the Mile-High Club? No. Perhaps they should? Yes? Perhaps they would? Yes?

Both resolved on the return flight in a few days to join such a prestigious club.

The moment had arrived. The plane was on auto pilot. The co-pilot was stretching his legs.

“This is you captain speaking,” said Wanda. “We are now cruising at an altitude of 36 thousand feet. We are currently 98 kilometres from flying over Tahiti. I will let you know when that occurs.”

Lawrence entered the captain’s cabin (in a manner of speaking). The flight was swift.

“We are now passing over Tahiti,” said Wanda trying to sound composed.

Lawrence’s reappearance in the passenger area was greeted with mild applause.