Gramma's First Flight

(1000 words)
May 30 entry to

333655

The Writer's Cramp  [13+] Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10,000 GPs! by Sophy

Gramma had spent almost all of her 65 years on the farm. Once each month, Grampa would drive her the forty-five minutes to the “big” city of Minot, to do the necessary shopping at the supermarket. Five of their six children had moved to the “big” city, upon reaching adulthood, where she saw them on occasion. But usually they had to drive to the farm, to visit their mom and dad.

Dorothy, the eldest, had taken the unprecedented move of marrying and leaving the state. She and her husband moved to Denver. Gramma and Grampa had only once ventured by car, to visit them. Summers were too busy, with seeding and harvesting. Winters were too treacherous, due to cold and snow. Visits with Dorothy were limited to the few times that Dorothy could travel to the farm.

Gramma had never been on an airplane, and never planned to. But granddaughter Carle was about to be confirmed. With a concerted effort, the family convinced Gramma to fly to Denver to attend. She protested, saying that Grampa could not survive without her. But the family agreed to take turns driving to the farm to check on Grampa. After all, Gramma would only be gone ten days. Now there was no excuse – she had to go – she had to fly.

The day of the trip, Gramma donned the new grey suit she had just bought at Target. She even remembered to snip off the price tags to avoid another embarrassing incident, like the time she went to church with “sale” stickers hanging from her underarms. She wore a matching pill box hat that was reserved for Sunday service. Loretta convinced her to smear rouge on her cheeks and dab some lipstick. The family could hardly recognize the old farm woman; she looked so “sophisticated” for her first flight.

The family gathered at the airport to see Gramma off. She was so excited and nervous, she had to pee every fifteen minutes. Marlene and Loretta accompanied Gramma to the bathroom each time, so she would emerge still looking fresh.

“Security screening is now available for flight 2041 to Denver.” The announcement meant that Gramma would have to go the rest of the way on her own. Raymond talked to an attendant who assured him that Gramma would be taken care of. She would be allowed to pre-board, due to her age.

Hugs, kisses and tears – Gramma disappeared through security.

In spite of her advanced years, she was still required to empty her purse, after the x-ray showed “suspicious” objects lurking in the senior’s handbag. They allowed her medicine to re-enter her bag, but the scissors had to go. How embarrassing.

“Oh, here is a picture of my daughter and her children. Carle is twelve, Chris is ten….”

“Lovely family, ma’am. Please proceed to gate four.” The security guard cut her off.

“Hello, my name is Mrs. Deck. I’m travelling to Denver to visit my daughter Dorothy and her family. They moved there eight years ago….” Gramma tried to engage the attendant at the gate, but again was cut off.

“Thank you, please be seated. We will announce pre-boarding in a couple of minutes.”

“Flight 2041 to Denver is now available for pre-boarding for anyone with small children, or needing extra time may now board.”

“Mrs. Deck, you may board here, boarding pass please.” The first attendant remembered her name. “Walk down this hall and take the second door on your right. There will be someone to greet you at the door to the plane.”

Gramma walked down the hall and found herself at the door of the plane. She couldn’t see the plane because of the covered ramp, but it looked huge.

“Seat 14G,” the attendant instructed Gramma, after glancing at the boarding pass. “Second aisle, your seat is on the left.”

With help from the next attendant Gramma encountered, she found her seat and started examining the contents of the seat pocket. The magazines looked interesting, but someone must have forgotten their lunch bag, she thought.

She knew from TV, that she needed to buckle up, so with some groping and searching she found the matching ends and buckled in.

With the plane still sitting on the ground, Gramma could now feel her stomach churning, and her cheeks flushing. It was all becoming real now. She was about to embark on her first ever flight.

The chief flight attendant announced that the doors would be closing soon in preparation for takeoff. Another attendant came to Gramma’s side and asked, “Are you Mrs. Deck?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Gramma replied, pleased to see that someone knew her name.

“Are you travelling to Denver?” The pretty young attendant continued with all the respect due to a senior citizen.

“Yes, I’m going to see my daughter, Dorothy. She and her husband, Les, have three lovely children. Carle is twelve, Chris is ten…”

“Excuse me, Mrs. Deck, but this plane is going to New York. Your plane is at the next gate. You turned one gate too early when boarding.”

“Oh, no.” Gramma went white. “My family will be waiting for me in Denver, not New York. I can’t go to New York. They will be so upset...”

“Not a problem, Mrs. Deck. One of our attendants will escort you to the right plane. There is lots of time to get there before departure. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

Gramma could have used some more rouge on her pale face. She was shaking all over, while the young attendant held her arm, as she walked off the New York plane, and onto the Denver plane.

Gramma’s first flight did not start out the way she had expected. She was so embarrassed and upset over the incident, that she never paid any attention to the takeoff and landing, the part of the flight she was most looking forward to.

Dorothy got special permission to escort her mother to the correct plane for the return trip to avoid any more surprises.