The new flight attendant smiled at each passenger. She said good morning to every one of them as they entered the plane, one by one. It was a laboured smile, but no one noticed. Some neglected it, some smiled back. Everyone passed her by and walked toward their seat. Their eyes searched for it watching the seat numbers above, while moving across the aisle. Everyone had told her that the take-off isn’t scary at all. She wondered if she wanted to fly at all.
A haughty woman walked with her stylish purse on her arms. Her red high heels knocked on the floor, making a tick tock sound. A middle-aged man, already seated, looked up when he heard the sound. Another man, a few rows ahead, who was placing his luggage below the seat in front of him did the same. Both of them noticed each other and exchanged a sly smile.
The woman next to another man in row thirteen told him that their son wants to go to the toilet. The man didn’t pay any attention to them. His attention was elsewhere.
Two business travellers took two aisle seats next to each other in a hurry. Neither the flight nor the others were on their mind. One of them opened the laptop. They started discussing a presentation. Another man wearing a tie took the seat behind them and overheard it.
A couple and their child took the three seats behind the man with the tie. The woman tied the child’s seatbelt. He started howling catching everyone’s attention and forcing her to untie it.
The college going girl behind the couple with the howling child reached out to her handbag. She removed her headphones and put them on her ears. She started watching something on her mobile phone.
A few minutes later, a baritone voice from the cockpit announced, “Arm all Doors and Crosscheck.” The new flight attendant shuddered on hearing it. No one noticed her shiver in fright.
Everyone heard the baritone voice of the captain though. It was time for the plane to take off.
The new flight attendant started her safety instructions with tentative confidence. No one watched her distraught face as she opened and closed a seat belt. She showed everyone how to put on a life jacket in an emergency. She fiddled with the oxygen masks while passengers went about settling.
The prospect of what was in store after take-off troubled her mind. She made one last walk across the aisle to ensure that everyone had their seatbelts on. She checked to see all electronic devices were switched off. She asked the haughty woman to place her purse below the seat in front of her. The haughty woman neglected her instruction. Her crew member asked her to move on. She asked the business travellers to switch off the laptop and stow it. She asked the couple to put on their child’s seatbelt.
All with a smile on her face while a fire raged within, after what had happened before boarding.
The firm voice in the cockpit announced, “Cabin Crew to take their seats for take-off.” It sent a shiver down her spine as the moment of reckoning got closer. No one noticed her nervousness.
She walked to the front of the plane and took her seat. She tried to silence her mind but found it difficult. Someone stood up to get something from the overhead cabin. Another wanted water. The new flight attendant instructed them politely to remain seated. On the surface, the unreasonable behaviour of those passengers irritated her. Deep within, she wondered what she was going to do after take-off. Was she going to fall in line? In the silence that ensued, the flight caught speed.
The haughty woman glared at the new flight attendant. The experienced crew member sat next to the new flight attendant in silence. She avoided eye contact for a while. She waited for the take-off.
“That’s his wife. She knows everything,” her crew member murmured, as the flight took off. “She doesn’t like it, too,” she added. The new flight attendant looked at her in surprise. Her racing pulse slowed down, but her confusion increased. She managed an awkward curve on her lips.
“He knocks on every new door. You don’t have to open it,” the crew member whispered.
Then she moved a bit closer and in the din of the engine noise, muttered, “We have got him in trouble in the past. Everyone knows it.”
The curve on the lips of the new flight attendant grew. It wasn’t a good thing. But it relieved her to know that she wasn’t alone. A twinkle in her eyes accompanied the growing smile. Her pulse slowed down. Her breath calmed down. She put her palm on the hand of her senior crew member, who held it tight.
After the flight had taken off, the new flight attendant got the trolleys out, ready for service.
As she moved with it across the aisle asking customers what they would like to order, there was a real smile on her face. This time it did not escape anyone’s notice.
***