First Flight

FIRST FLIGHT I’d never been off the ground before, just trains and boats. Got a job in America: discovered nothing goes there that floats. First flight - Lockheed L 1011 Heathrow to Toronto. Airport bar. Terrified. Life in someone else’s hands. In control? No. Decided to over-drink, dutch courage to quell nerves, fear. No effect. Got to steel self and into the plane try to steer. Sit down. Fiddle with belt. Try earphones. Hands a-shake. Next to me. Old lady, maybe seventy-five, decides my hand to take. It’ll be OK. First flight? Just hold my hand, you’ll see. Like a miracle. Calmness. Soon we were flying in peace over the sea.