henda scottcreative writing portfolio

2

2

3

3contents

short short stories

short film script: relations

novel: it’s not a coat

short story: mute date

screenplay: a lion in the bedroom

4

9

19

40

42

4

�e last thing the people of the Reitz Dutch Reformed Church expected to see upon entering the small church building that morning was the lifeless body of Samuel, their organist hanging by a rope right above his beloved organ. Yet as they shuffled through the heavy wooden doors, they were greeted by the sound of the pipes, making a low humming sound as the tips of his shoes brushed against the keyboard. Little children screamed, women started wailing and the old reverend’s wife promptly fainted. Within a matter of seconds pandemonium had broken out inside the church. �e reverend, standing at his usual spot on the stairs outside the big church doors to greet his congre-gation, rushed in to see what the commotion was all about. He quickly scanned the church and immediately noticed the ghostly sight above the grand organ. �e blood drained from his face and he felt that morning’s breakfast rising to his throat.

He kept his composure long enough to re-establish order in the tiny church. As soon as everyone had calmed down he calmly instructed them to head outside and wait in the even smaller church hall. His wife had regained consciousness at this point and he ordered her to call his good friend and solitary church elder. His wife left the building without a single glance back at the morbid sight and the reverend took a seat in the front row, waiting for his friend and toying with what was to be done. Soon the sound emitted from the organ became unbearable and the reverend stood up to leave the building again. In the forty years he had served his community, he had never had such a terrible thing occur in his church. He hadn’t known the young organist for long, yet he always thought of him as a pleasant young man and couldn’t even begin to comprehend what would drive him to such a terrible act. To the reverend, suicide was a sin and somehow he felt personally responsible for Samuel’s death. As he got top the door he had made up his mind to leave the whole mess to the police, when his eye caught something. Dangling in Samuel’s lifeless left hand was a piece of paper. A suicide note. �e reverend froze for a second, contemplating his next move. Eventually curiosity got the better of him and he made his way over to the organ to free the note from the dead man’s hands. It was a small piece of paper, folded twice.

He unfolded it once and found the words: “Please read to the whole congregation, I know they are waiting in the church hall”. �e rever-end frowned and saw a tiny sentence at the bottom: “�is is my dying wish, do it”. �e reverend knew he had no choice. He took the piece of paper outside and headed to the church hall where the rest of his congregation was waiting with anticipation. He gathered them all around and explained to them that he found a note and that Samuel wanted all of them to listen to what he was about to read. �ey all huddled together and silence fell over the room as the reverend started.

“To all the members of the church: Sorry for ruining your morning. I will attempt to explain my actions to you and I hope that you forgive me. I believe it is important that you understand that it was your actions that drove me to do this and for that I have forgiven you. But you must know you drove me crazy. You literally made me lose my mind. As a religious man and a lover of music, I simply couldn’t bear the sound you made when the reverend asked you to stand and join him in singing a hymn. Time after time I have tried to get you to start singing from the first word, yet you refuse. Two or three people try at least and the rest seems to join in after the first line. What comes in between is a noise so damaging to the ear, that after a year of loyal service to this church I simply couldn’t stand it anymore. It is an incoherent soft drone somewhere between mumbling and wailing and it literally killed me. So it is up to you to decide if you want to fix this, but I hope that from now on every time you hear that awful sound between singing and moaning, you will think of me, and be haunted by the noise.

Memel

5

17 - The little number on my radio’s display screen suddenly takes up the whole car. No wonder I’m distracted. I can’t think properly and I definitely can’t focus on

the road. Someone else was driving my car and it pisses me off. Not the fact that my seat was adjusted to accommodate a giant, not the fact that my mirrors show nothing but the roof and sides of my car. Not even the fact that my car smells like

someone else’s cheap perfume and gym socks. Someone had the audacity to adjust the sound on my radio, that’s what really gets my blood boiling.

I have an uncontrollable urge to press the volume button down twice. Or up three times. It’s not so much a superstition as a slight touch of OCD. Superstitions are

for people with too much time on their hands. I prefer to think of it as a little quirk.It doesn’t make sense and I now it’s unreasonable, but it makes me really uncomfortable when the volume on any piece of equipment is not set to mul-

tiples of five. In the event that such a volume is unobtainable (it happens) the volume absolutely has to be set on an even number. For the mathematically chal-

lenged: two, four, five and six are fine, but one, three and seven: kill me now, please. It’s not that I‘m afraid of the other numbers really. It’s not the belief that the number 13 is unlucky that makes my skin crawl. Nope, it’s quite simply the nature

and appearance of the number.

If I had to describe it, it’s a bit like looking at someone whose cap is placed on their head off-centre. Not turned all the way to the side, like some rap artists wear

them, just ever so slightly to the one side. It doesn’t bother you until you notice it, and when you do, you become ob-sessed with adjusting it. It’s the only thing you can think of

or look at. This is what I feel like every single time I look at an odd number (excluding multiples of five, of course) on a

radio. I can’t stand it. I must do something. I will change it.

So I reach for the radio and press the volume button down twice. It’s still on 17. Then up three times, but it remains unchanged. What a superb time for my car’s mechanics to freak out! Extremely frustrated now, I

smash the radio with the palm of my hand a few times, but the number remains the same. I stare at the radio and

feel myself losing control. I’ll just throw the fucking thing out the window! 17! I glare at the little red number, willing it to change with all my might. I glare and I stare and I’m pretty

sure I just saw the number flicker. I bang on the radio again, this time with the back of my hand and the number

changes. Victorious, I look up too late to see the red lights.

Five’s Alive

6

Julia was known for her cooking. Anything from authentic Mexican dishes to Mediterranean platters to oriental spreads. She was particularly famous for her “nasi goreng” recipe and decided to treat her guests to this special dish on that hot summer’s night. She spent the whole afternoon chopping vegetables and chicken breasts into tiny little pieces. The rice was cooked for the exactly the right length and the different sauces were lined up perfectly next to the big saucepan.

She usually made a seafood variant, combining all sorts of delicious fruits of the sea with the freshest veggies and perfectly steamed rice, but that night she decided to try the chicken, as she remembered vaguely that her friend Fred was allergic to shellfish.

The guests started arriving at dusk and everyone marvelled once again at the beautifully set table. Julia was born to entertain. The aroma escaping from the kitchen door every time Julia went to check on her dish was positively devastating and they couldn’t wait to sit down and try the dish their good friend had prepared for them.

Soon all the guest had arrived and Julia suggested they all take their seats at the table. They finished a cold tomato soup and struggled to hide their disappointment when a salad was served as a second starter. No-one made any secret of the fact that they were there for the main course, as it had become customary for guests to try and name all the ingredi-ents. In the forty years that they had been friends, they had figured out most of the basic ingredients and even a few of

the spices, but no-one had ever gotten close to naming her secret ingredient and she intended to keep in that way.

The guests finished the salad in no time and Julia smiled to herself as she went to add the finishing touches to her award-winning recipe. She fetched

a small container form the back of the pantry and took out a sharp knife. Quickly checking that no-one was nearby, she scraped a few pieces, not even

half a teaspoon, of the delicacy into the saucepan and stirred it one last time. The dish was perfect.

Her guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the celebrated dish and all manners went out the door when she sat the saucepan down in the middle of the long dining table. Men and

women scrambled to reach the pan and dished up in a matter of minutes. The room became silent as everyone chewed on their food, closing their eyes to savour the taste and to try and

get a better idea of what exactly went into the dish. Julia smiled, knowing they will never guess her secret ingredient.

She was watching her friends enjoy the food, when she noticed Fred looking a bit red. She put it down to the November heat and watched as the rest of her guests finished their plates and dug in to get seconds. She glanced over at Fred once more and noticed that his upper lip was

starting to swell. It continued to get worse as she watched him and she asked him if he was okay. He replied that he wasn’t feeling great but that it was probably just an allergy. That didn’t make sense to anyone as they all knew he was allergic to shellfish, but there was no

shellfish in the dish that night.

In less than two minutes his lips were swollen to four times their usual size and he started to complain that he was having difficulty breathing. Julia thought back to the last ingredient she had added to her dish and her heart sank. The “trassi”! She had completely forgotten that it contained small but very concentrated amounts of prawn stock. She would have to tell her friend. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She watched her friend turn dark purple as his throat continued to swell. She knew if she just came clean, they would have time to rush them to the hospital where he could get the neces-sary injection. But then everyone would know her secret ingredient. The secret she’d been keeping for forty years. By saving her friend’s life she would be giving away the secret to her spectacular dish and soon all her friends would be making the dish.

She couldn’t let that happen. So she watched her friend turn from purple to blue as he fell of his chair and let out his last breath.

Trassi

7

Pric

e of

Fam

eShe always knew she was destined for fame, but being too shy to approach a modeling agency, she decided to get her “big break” the way her role model did- by being on TV by accident. She would go on to be the reluctant star, telling everyone she never wanted to be famous. She would develop an irresponsible drug habit and die a tragic death at a very young age. She was going to be Pretoria’s Pamela.

She worked as a waitress in a small coffee shop and spent all her free time, money and energy on reaching her goal. She slept with the grounds man at Super-Sport Park to get a season ticket and went there to watch the Titans play every chance she got. She spent all her money on looking good. On the day, she would spend an hour in the hair salon and at least two hours doing her make up to get the perfect natural look.

After three months without success, she realised she would have to step up her game. So, on the 17th of November, during the big Pro 20 final, she added a little

extra make up and headed off to the game once again. She found a spot close to a cameraman and prepared herself for

fame. Throughout the game she eyed the cameraman constantly and finally, during the last over she got her op-portunity.

The camera turned around to face the crowd and she could see her reflection in the lens. She flashed her biggest smile and lifted her top, revealing her two pert breasts. She heard the crowd go “ooh” and closed her eyes to bask in the moment. Then there was a gasp.

The next day, the newspaper read: “Titans Win Pro20” with the sub-heading: “Bittersweet Victory as Cricket Ball Claims Flasher.” She got everything she wanted.

8

9

Screenplay “Relations”

10

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT We see feet moving swiftly over a polished, white

hospital floor. They turn a few corners and move towards an open door. As the feet pass through the door, they approach two other pairs of shoes: a pair of leopard print heels with red soles and a well-worn pair of

leather loafers.

INT. HOSPITAL - WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A young, scatterbrained doctor is standing in front of a man and woman, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. The couple looks up at him in anticipation.

DOCTOR: Um yah, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Michael needs the transplant.

Isabelle Danielson, a beautiful 43-year-old brunette and her husband Tony look at the doctor, confused.

TONY: I’m sorry, what now doctor?

DOCTOR:

Oh sorry, I thought Dr Emerson filled you in. We’ll need to do the transplant to save your

son’s life.

TONY: I’m still kind of lost.

What transplant? The doctor lets out an impatient sigh.

DOCTOR: Bone. Bone marrow. We need to do a bone marrow transplant as soon as

possible. Oh and one of you will need to donate.

Isabelle’s head snaps up.

ISABELLE:

“I'll do it.”

11

DOCTOR: Thanks, but we’ll test you both, just in case you are

not a perfect match.

Isabelle frowns. Tony gives her a reassuring hug.

TONY: It’s ok, we’ll be a match.

Tony winks at his wife.

TONY:

A perfect match.

DOCTOR: Oh-key, don’t mean to interrupt, but we need to get the tests done like

now, so if you could just follow me…

TONY:

Ready?

ISABELLE: Uh-huh, let’s do it.

They get up and follow the doctor out of the room.

INT. HOSPITAL – DOCTOR’S ROOM- MOMENTS LATER

The doctor is preparing to extract some spinal fluid from Isabelle. Isabelle is twirling her hair around her finger and looks around the tiny room. A huge poster of the

human anatomy catches her eye and she studies it distractedly.

ISABELLE:

So, how exactly does this work, doctor?

DOCTOR:

Well, it’s going to be pretty painful, but I’ll be quick.

The doctor chuckles to himself awkwardly. Isabelle shakes her head.

12

ISABELLE: No um, I mean, how will you know if we’re suitable

donors?

DOCTOR: Oh, sorry. I’ll take a

small sample and we’ll do some tests. Don’t worry though, it’s highly unlikely you won’t be a

match. I mean, you are his parents after all.

Isabelle is not amused with his comment. She distractedly

twirls a strand of hair and tries to hide her discomfort.

INT. HOSPITAL – WAITING ROOM- CONTINUOUS

Isabelle is sitting alone, waiting for Tony to return. She taps her foot on the floor, deep in thought. Tony enters the room. She looks at him and then looks at the floor.

TONY:

Well that wasn’t too much fun, hey?

Isabelle looks away and pretends not to notice her husband.

TONY: I’m sorry, I know it’s been tough…

Isabelle looks in the direction of the vending machine.

TONY: Come now, in a few hours

we’ll know if we can help Michael. Doctor Ross assured me that one of us would be a compatible

donor. Isabelle turns her head and looks her husband in the eye.

ISABELLE: Tony, we kind of need to talk. There’s something I haven’t been…

13

Annabelle, Isabelle’s twin sister and her husband Tim, Tony’s twin brother walk in the room and cut her short. The sight of her twin sister makes Isabelle sigh and sink

back into her chair. Annabelle rushes to comfort her sister and Tim takes a seat next to Tony. TIM:

These doctors always make it sound worse than it actually is. 17 years in practice, I’ve never had a

case where at least one parent wasn’t a genetic match. You’ll probably end up fighting over who’ll to

save his life.

Isabelle gets up and walks outside.

EXT. HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS Isabelle stands outside alone for a few minutes, gathering her thoughts and getting some fresh air. She

sees a male nurse smoking in the corner

ISABELLE: Mind if I have one?

NURSE:

These things will kill you.

ISABELLE: I hope they do.

He hands her a cigarette and lights it for her. She takes

two drags and puts it out. Then she turns around and heads back into the hospital with a determined step.

INT. HOSPITAL – WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Isabelle approaches the waiting room door she sees the doctor talking to Tony in a hushed voice. Tony has a frown on his face. She listens from the door and as

Annabelle and Tim move closer to the conversation she bursts in the door.

ISABELLE:

Tony, I…

14

TONY: Oh, you heard. The doctor says neither of us are a

match. They fast tracked the test so they could operate sooner, but…

ISABELLE: Tony, just listen. I really need to tell you something.

Annabelle and Tim look at her inquisitively and she turns to them. ISABELLE:

You guys better listen too, this affects all of us,.

The doctor looks at Isabelle curiously.

ISABELLE:

Well, not you, do you mind?

The doctor shrugs and heads to the door. DOCTOR:

I guess I’ll give you some privacy.

The doctor leaves the room.

INT. HOSPITAL – WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Isabelle, Tony, Annabelle and Tim are in the waiting room. No one says a word. Everyone watches Isabelle, who is staring at her hands. Annabelle finally breaks the

silence. ANNABELLE:

Um…

Isabelle looks up at her sister, determined to finally get the truth out in the open.

ISABELLE:

Anna, you know that thing we did? Years ago, a few

days before the wedding.

15

ANNABELLE: What?

ISABELLE: That thing when we swapped…

ANNABELLE:

Bella don’t. Why do you have to bring that up?

TIM:

What are you guys taking about?

ANNABELLE:

It’s nothing.

ISABELLE: It’s not nothing. It’s

something. Something big. TIM:

You two aren’t making any

sense.

ISABELLE: Tony, a few nights before

our wedding, Anna and I traded…

ANNABELLE:

Why are you…

ISABELLE: Traded identities for one

night. She dated you and I dated Tim. It was a joke. Like a test to see if we were with the right twin.

Something suddenly dawns on Tim. His eyes widen and he looks at Isabelle, horrified.

TIM: Don’t tell me…

ISABELLE:

Yes. You see Anna, what I never told you is that I accidentally slept with Tim that night.

16

ANNABELLE: You what? How? Tim?

ISABELLE: He didn’t know. He thought I was you.

ANNABELLE: But then what…

TIM:

I still don’t get how this…

Isabelle gets up and starts pacing around the room.

ISABELLE: You know how we always said Michael was a honeymoon baby?

TIM:

I can’t listen to this.

Tim gets up and leaves the room.

ANNABELLE: What are you saying?

ISABELLE:

Michael isn’t Tony’s son.

ANNABELLE: He’s Tim’s.

She shakes her head and stares at her sister.

ANNABELLE:

I can’t believe you never…

ISABELLE: I wanted to say something, I just never…

Tony re-enters the room.

17

TIM: I’m having myself tested to see if I can save your son…

my son’s life. ISABELLE:

Tim, don’t be like…

Tim just shakes his head at her and walks out the door, followed closely by Annabelle.

Isabelle looks at Tony, who still hasn’t said anything. ISABELLE:

Tony please, I meant to…

TONY:

Don’t.

Tony gets up and heads toward the door. TONY:

Just don’t. I’m going to

check on Michael. I really think you’d better stay here.

ISABELLE:

Tony please, don’t you know how hard it’s been for me…

TONY:

I know. He gives her a pitiful glance.

TONY: Well, your secret’s out. I guess you did a good thing tonight. For your son.

Tony turns around and leaves the room. Isabelle sits in the waiting room by herself, watching her

family walk away from her.

18

19

henda scott

the rise of the anorak

20

23

“Hi,

I’m T

eddy

and

I lo

ve a

erop

lane

s.”“H

i Ted

dy”

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r pal

e fa

ces s

imul

tane

ousl

y no

d up

and

dow

n in

ac-

know

ledg

emen

t as t

hey

echo

my

first

wor

ds o

f gre

etin

g. F

or

a m

omen

t I’m

not

sure

if I

can

cont

inue

. How

do

I tel

l the

se

com

plet

e st

rang

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hat I

find

the

amou

nt o

f bol

ts fo

und

in

a Bo

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747

fasc

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ing?

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ld th

ey fi

nd it

wei

rd th

at I

lie a

wak

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nig

ht li

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to th

e so

und

of p

lane

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sing

ab

ove

my

hous

e, n

amin

g ev

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sing

le o

ne?

Nev

er m

ind

the

fact

that

I ac

tual

ly so

ld m

y fu

lly fu

rnis

hed

Moo

iklo

of m

an-

sion

to m

ove

into

a b

ed-s

itter

in B

oksb

urg,

just

to b

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ar

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airp

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At l

east

I ke

pt m

y m

odel

aer

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ne c

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whi

ch is

safe

ly k

ept i

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lthou

gh re

ally

it

Cha

pter

1

21

45

shou

ld b

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a m

useu

m…

“Ted

dy, w

ould

you

like

to sh

are

som

e m

ore?

”It’

s the

lead

er, A

ndy,

who

wel

com

ed m

e to

nigh

t as i

f he’

d kn

own

me

for y

ears

. All

smile

s and

pat

s on

the

back

, ver

y cr

eepy

to sa

y th

e le

ast.

Even

cre

epie

r was

the

way

he

reco

g-ni

sed

me

as so

on a

s I w

alke

d in

the

smal

l doo

r at t

he b

ack

of th

e ha

ll. It

was

like

he

was

exp

ectin

g m

e, o

r som

ethi

ng.

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he

look

s at m

e w

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e m

ost p

atie

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xpre

ssio

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th

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aro

und

me

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rock

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cha

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And

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nigh

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mum

ble

and

take

my

seat

aga

in.

And

y tu

rns h

is a

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to th

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ll ge

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look

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next

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ts h

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forw

ard,

as i

f to

give

som

e so

rt o

f go-

ahea

d an

d th

e gu

y re

spon

ds w

ith a

nod

.Th

is o

ught

to b

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od.

As t

he g

eek

laun

ches

into

a ta

le a

bout

the

eart

h sh

atte

ring

real

isat

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he m

ade

this

wee

k I r

esis

t the

urg

e to

roll

my

eyes

and

am

use

mys

elf b

y im

agin

ing

all t

hese

lose

rs in

a

ten-

seat

er, h

eadi

ng st

raig

ht fo

r the

pea

k of

mou

nt K

ilim

an-

jaro

.Th

is li

ttle

fant

asy

keep

s me

goin

g fo

r a w

hile

, but

by

the

time

the

aero

plan

e tu

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o a

little

hea

p of

bur

nt m

etal

and

I r

ealis

e th

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ek is

still

com

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to te

rms w

ith h

is d

isco

very

, I g

et a

littl

e pi

ssed

off.

He’

s bee

n go

ing

on fo

r mor

e th

an

twen

ty m

inut

es a

nd n

o on

e gi

ves a

shit.

It’s n

ot in

tere

stin

g du

de, g

et th

e fu

ck o

n, th

ere’

s ple

nty

mor

e pe

ople

with

lam

e st

orie

s who

wan

t to

spill

thei

r gut

s and

st

ill g

et h

ome

befo

re th

e su

n ris

es.

Afte

r wha

t fee

ls li

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noth

er h

our t

he g

eek

final

ly g

ets t

oo

chok

ed u

p to

fini

sh a

nd I

have

to si

t on

my

hand

s not

to g

et

up a

nd c

heer

in e

csta

sy.

It’s d

one.

Fin

ally

, I c

an g

o ho

me…

My

relie

f dis

appe

ars j

ust a

s soo

n as

it c

ame.

I lo

ok a

t the

path

etic

face

s aro

und

me,

star

ing

vaca

ntly

aro

und

the

room

, al

l jus

t wai

ting

to sh

are

the

sam

e st

ory.

You

have

got

to b

e ki

ddin

g m

e.It

hits

me

that

for t

he re

st o

f thi

s nev

er-e

ndin

g ni

ght,

And

y is

goi

ng to

go

arou

nd th

e ro

om g

ivin

g ev

eryo

ne a

cha

nce

to

intr

oduc

e th

emse

lves

(who

car

es?)

and

stat

e th

eir a

ddic

tion

(get

ove

r it a

lread

y!).

If I’m

luck

y, so

me

will

eve

n ta

ke th

e tim

e to

des

crib

e ex

actly

wha

t the

y lo

ve a

bout

a c

erta

in b

or-

ing

thin

g an

d I’l

l be

able

to im

agin

e m

ore

horr

ifyin

g pl

ane

cras

hes t

o ke

ep m

ysel

f fro

m la

ughi

ng in

dis

gust

. Hon

estly

, th

e th

ings

that

som

e of

thes

e pe

ople

find

inte

rest

ing

is fu

ck-

ing

insa

ne.

Why

am

I ev

en in

the

sam

e ro

om a

s the

se fr

eaks

?

22

67

15 S

epte

mbe

r 197

3. T

he d

ay it

all

star

ted.

I gu

ess i

f the

re

wer

e an

yone

I ne

eded

to b

lam

e fo

r my

pass

ion

for a

ero-

plan

es it

wou

ld b

e m

y da

d. N

ot th

at I

wou

ld e

ver b

lam

e hi

m. I

am

ete

rnal

ly th

ankf

ul to

war

ds h

im fo

r int

rodu

cing

m

e to

the

fasc

inat

ing

wor

ld o

f airc

raft.

It

was

a S

atur

day.

My

fath

er w

oke

me

early

that

mor

ning

. It

was

still

dar

k ou

tsid

e, so

I gu

ess i

t mus

t hav

e be

en b

efor

e fiv

e. H

e ha

d be

en p

rom

isin

g m

e a

big

adve

ntur

e si

nce

my

four

th b

irthd

ay in

June

d I

had

trou

ble

slee

ping

in th

e th

ree

mon

ths t

hat f

ollo

wed

. For

a li

ttle

boy

that

’s a

hel

l of a

long

tim

e an

d I w

as th

rille

d w

hen

he in

form

ed m

e on

e M

onda

y th

at th

e sp

ecia

l day

was

to b

e in

less

than

a w

eek.

That

who

le d

amn

wee

k I b

ugge

d hi

m to

tell

me

wha

t it w

as,

Cha

pter

2

23

89

but h

e re

fuse

d. I

had

gues

sed

ever

ythi

ng fr

om a

new

pon

y (G

od k

now

s why

), to

a tr

ip to

Dis

neyl

and

or a

new

bro

ther

. W

ith e

very

gue

ss m

y da

d ju

st c

huck

led

and

said

in h

is m

ys-

terio

us to

ne:

“You

just

wai

t and

see.

”A

nd I

did.

Whe

n he

cam

e to

wak

e m

e th

at m

orni

ng I

was

up

in a

min

ute

and

dres

sed

in tw

o. W

e qu

ietly

snuc

k ou

t of

the

hous

e (m

y m

om w

as st

ill sl

eepi

ng a

s she

was

not

invi

ted

to c

ome

alon

g on

our

littl

e ad

vent

ure)

. We

got i

n m

y da

d’s

old

Ang

lia a

nd to

ok o

ff in

to th

e da

rkne

ss. T

he d

rive

felt

like

it w

as ta

king

fore

ver.

I was

too

exci

ted

to sl

eep

agai

n, so

I w

atch

ed th

e st

reet

light

s go

by a

nd th

e ci

ty sl

owly

aw

akin

g fr

om a

nig

ht o

f sha

mel

ess s

in.

Afte

r wha

t fel

t lik

e an

ete

rnity

we

final

ly a

rriv

ed a

t the

des

-tin

atio

n.La

nser

ia. T

he so

und

of th

at w

ord

gets

me

exci

ted

to th

is

very

day

. It s

ound

ed li

ke a

mag

ical

pla

ce, t

he n

ever

-nev

er

land

of t

he m

oder

n ki

d. M

y da

d ex

plai

ned

to m

e th

at w

e w

ere

goin

g to

see

som

ethi

ng v

ery

spec

ial:

an a

ir sh

ow. B

ack

then

, to

me

aero

plan

es w

ere

still

som

ewha

t of a

nov

elty

. I

had

seen

som

e of

them

in m

y da

d’s m

agaz

ines

and

hea

rd

them

pas

s abo

ve in

he

dist

ance

, but

I ha

d ne

ver s

een

an a

ir-cr

aft o

f som

ethi

ng re

sem

blin

g on

e up

clo

se.

My

dad

had

a fe

w fr

iend

s who

wer

e ta

king

par

t in

the

show

an

d he

intr

oduc

ed m

e to

them

. I st

ill d

idn’

t rea

lly u

nder

-st

and

wha

t was

goi

ng o

n an

d w

hat t

he fu

ss w

as a

bout

(I

mea

n, it

was

no

Dis

neyl

and)

so I

kind

of t

agge

d al

ong

and

hid

behi

nd h

is le

g as

he

chat

ted

with

all

his b

uddi

es. H

e w

as a

retir

ed a

ir fo

rce

pilo

t. H

e m

et m

y m

othe

r dur

ing

a w

eeke

nd h

e sp

ent w

ith h

is su

perio

r offi

cer i

n Jo

hann

esbu

rg

and

not l

ong

afte

r the

y go

t mar

ried

he d

ecid

ed to

leav

e th

e ar

my

for a

mor

e st

able

job

in th

e ci

ty. H

e ra

rely

got

a c

hanc

e

to c

atch

up

with

his

old

frie

nds,

as th

ey n

ever

real

ly u

nder

-st

ood

why

he

left

and

rese

nted

my

mot

her f

or m

akin

g hi

m

leav

e. M

ost o

f the

m e

ven

refu

sed

to c

ome

to o

ur h

ouse

to

see

my

mot

her,

so o

n th

ese

rare

occ

asio

ns th

at th

ey d

id g

et

toge

ther

it w

as a

lway

s fas

cina

ting

to li

sten

to th

em re

coun

t-in

g th

eir d

ays o

f ser

ving

the

coun

try

toge

ther

.Th

e gr

ound

s got

mor

e cr

owde

d as

peo

ple

star

ted

arriv

ing

by th

e tr

uckl

oad.

Sta

lls w

ere

setti

ng u

p, g

ettin

g re

ady

to p

re-

pare

gre

asy

snac

ks fo

r all

the

visi

tors

. I w

as e

yein

g a

cotto

n-ca

ndy

stal

l, w

hen

a de

afen

ing

nois

e su

dden

ly c

ame

from

th

e sk

y ab

ove.

I cl

utch

ed m

y ha

nd o

ver m

y ea

rs, c

lose

d m

y ey

es a

nd st

arte

d to

scre

am. M

y da

d m

ust’v

e fo

und

it hi

lari-

ous,

beca

use

whe

n I fi

nally

stop

ped

scre

amin

g an

d da

red

to o

pen

my

eyes

I sa

w h

im a

nd h

is b

uddi

es a

ll la

ughi

ng a

t m

e. I

was

in sh

ock.

I st

ill re

mem

ber h

is o

ld li

eute

nant

’s re

d fa

ce c

onto

rtin

g w

ith la

ught

er. T

hey

wer

e la

ughi

ng a

t me,

a

poor

littl

e bo

y w

ho w

as c

onvi

nced

the

end

of th

e w

orld

had

ar

rived

. I lo

oked

at m

y da

d w

ith a

trem

blin

g lo

wer

lip.

He

obvi

ousl

y sa

w h

ow u

pset

I w

as, b

ecau

se h

e ca

me

over

to m

e an

d kn

eele

d do

wn

to ta

lk to

me.

“I

t’s a

figh

ter j

et, T

eddy

. Isn

’t it

amaz

ing?

”I s

till c

ould

n’t o

pen

my

mou

th to

resp

ond,

so h

e w

ent o

n.“W

e’re

at a

n ai

r sho

w, r

emem

ber?

We’

re g

oing

to b

e lo

ok-

ing

a ae

ropl

anes

and

jets

the

who

le d

ay.”

He

patie

ntly

ex-

plai

ned.

“But

it h

urts

my

ears

” I s

tart

ed to

whi

ne. I

was

a re

al si

ssy

back

then

. I w

ishe

d m

y da

d an

d I c

ould

just

get

bac

k in

the

car a

nd g

o ho

me.

I di

dn’t

wan

t to

stay

and

look

at n

oisy

, sc

ary

aero

plan

es th

e w

hole

day

. I st

ompe

d m

y fo

ot o

n th

e gr

ound

for g

ood

mea

sure

. One

of m

y da

d’s a

rmy

frie

nds

calle

d hi

m o

ver a

nd h

e le

ft m

e st

andi

ng th

ere,

sulk

ing.

I tur

ned

my

back

on

them

and

look

ed o

ver m

y sh

ould

er

ever

y on

ce in

a w

hile

to tr

y an

d fig

ure

out w

hat t

hey

wer

e

24

1011

plot

ting.

Eve

ntua

lly th

e sk

inny

bea

rded

one

wal

ked

over

o

a ca

r and

pro

duce

d w

hat l

ooke

d lik

e a

set o

f red

bal

ls. I

sq

uint

ed to

try

and

figur

e ou

t wha

t it w

as b

ut I

wou

ld n

ever

ha

ve g

uess

ed.

My

dad

cam

e ov

er a

nd p

rese

nted

me

with

the

pair

of e

ar-

muf

fs. T

hey

look

ed in

tere

stin

g, b

ut I

had

no c

lue

wha

t the

y w

ere,

as m

y da

d re

fuse

d to

kee

p gu

ns in

the

hous

e an

d fo

r-bi

d m

e to

go

near

one

(he

was

a b

it w

eird

like

that

, I g

uess

it

had

som

ethi

ng to

do

with

the

thin

gs h

e sa

w in

the

air f

orce

). H

e se

para

ted

the

two

red

earp

iece

s and

pla

ced

them

ove

r m

y sm

all h

ead.

Si

lenc

e.Su

dden

ly e

very

thin

g ar

ound

me

beca

me

quie

t and

I co

uld

hear

the

rhyt

hm o

f my

own

brea

thin

g. M

y da

d sm

iled

at m

e an

d ga

ve m

e a

thum

bs-u

p si

gnal

. I c

opie

d th

e ge

stur

e.Ev

eryt

hing

was

oka

y. I

coul

dn’t

hear

the

crow

d ch

atte

ring

away

, or t

he re

d-fa

ced

lieut

enan

t’s e

vil l

augh

. But

mos

t im

-po

rtan

tly I

coul

dn’t

hear

the

deaf

enin

g so

und

of th

e fig

hter

je

ts fl

ying

ove

rhea

d.Th

at d

ay tu

rned

out

to b

e th

e be

st d

ay o

f my

life.

With

the

earm

uffs

safe

ly o

n m

y ea

rs I

gaze

d up

at a

ll th

e fa

scin

at-

ing

plan

es c

irclin

g ab

ove

us. I

look

ed in

won

der a

s the

y di

d lo

ops a

nd d

ives

and

swirl

ed p

ast o

ne a

noth

er. A

fter a

whi

le

I got

so in

to it

that

I to

ok th

e ea

rmuf

fs o

ff. M

y da

d lo

oked

do

wn

at m

e an

d pa

tted

me

on th

e ba

ck ra

ther

roug

hly.

“Now

you

can

talk

with

the

big

boys

, Ted

dy.”

Th

e pl

anes

kep

t com

ing

and

the

tric

ks g

ot b

ette

r and

bet

ter.

My

jaw

mus

t hav

e be

en d

ragg

ing

on th

e flo

or, a

s I lo

oked

at

al t

he th

ings

thes

e fo

reig

n ob

ject

s wer

e ca

pabl

e of

. It

coul

dn’t

get a

ny b

ette

r tha

n th

is.

Then

my

dad

anno

unce

d th

at h

e ha

d an

othe

r spe

cial

trea

t fo

r me.

He

led

me

over

to a

dem

arca

ted

area

, whe

re tw

o m

en in

uni

form

wer

e gu

ardi

ng th

e en

tran

ce. I

trie

d to

pee

k

in b

ehin

d th

em a

nd sa

w w

hat l

ooke

d lik

e th

e ta

il of

an

airc

raft.

I al

mos

t pee

d m

y pa

nts w

ith e

xcite

men

t. M

y da

d w

hisp

ered

som

ethi

ng to

the

one

guar

d, w

ho lo

oked

at m

e do

ubtfu

lly. T

hen

he sm

iled

and

nodd

ed to

the

othe

r gua

rd

who

step

ped

away

from

the

entr

ance

to le

t us t

hrou

gh. I

w

as g

iggl

ing

like

a lit

tle g

irl. I

ent

ered

this

mag

ical

wor

ld o

f pl

anes

and

jets

and

pilo

ts a

nd w

ings

and

all

I cou

ld d

o w

as

star

e in

abs

olut

e am

azem

ent.

Eve

ryth

ing

was

so b

ig a

nd

impr

essi

ve, I

felt

like

the

smal

lest

4 y

ear o

ld in

the

wor

ld.

I wal

ked

arou

nd e

ach

plan

e, c

lose

ly in

spec

ting

all t

he d

etai

l an

d ru

nnin

g m

y ha

nd a

long

the

leng

th. M

y da

d’s o

ld ro

om-

mat

e w

alke

d ov

er to

me,

smili

ng.

“Wan

na g

et in

boy

?”Th

e m

agic

al w

ords

. I w

as p

retty

mes

mer

ized

by

then

, but

th

ose

wor

ds se

aled

my

fate

. I h

ad n

ever

seen

any

thin

g as

be

autif

ul a

s the

insi

de o

f tha

t sm

all j

et e

ngin

e.

Dur

ing

the

driv

e ho

me

it w

as a

ll I c

ould

talk

abo

ut a

nd m

y da

d lis

tene

d to

eve

ry w

ord.

I gu

ess I

can

und

erst

and

now

th

at th

e re

ason

for o

ur tr

ip w

as th

at h

e de

sper

atel

y w

ante

d so

meo

ne to

shar

e hi

s lov

e of

aer

opla

nes.

I nev

er re

alis

ed

wha

t he

had

give

n up

hen

he

left

the

air f

orce

and

my

mom

ne

ver l

et h

im ta

lk a

bout

it. T

hat m

ust’v

e be

en h

is w

ay o

f sh

owin

g m

e.

Una

war

e of

all

thes

e un

derly

ing

issu

es a

nd th

e pe

rhap

s de

ceitf

ul re

ason

for t

he e

xcur

sion

, I k

ept c

hatti

ng a

way

ab

out s

teer

ing

whe

els,

light

s and

switc

hes.

Whe

n w

e ar

-riv

ed h

ome

I wal

ked

stra

ight

into

the

kitc

hen

whe

re m

y m

om w

as p

uttin

g th

e fin

al to

uche

s on

my

birt

hday

cak

e an

d an

noun

ced:

“Whe

n I g

row

up,

I’m

gon

na b

e a

pilo

t.”W

e ne

ver a

te b

irthd

ay c

ake

that

nig

ht. M

y m

om a

nd d

ad

got i

nto

a hu

ge fi

ght s

pent

the

rest

of t

he n

ight

in m

y ro

om

liste

ning

to th

em a

rgue

. I re

ache

d in

to m

y ba

ckpa

ck a

nd g

ot

25

1213

out m

y pa

ir of

red

earm

uffs

. I p

ut th

em o

n an

d la

y on

the

bed,

aw

ay fr

om th

e sc

ream

ing

and

cryi

ng. I

clo

sed

my

eyes

an

d pi

ctur

ed m

ysel

f beh

ind

the

stee

r of a

figh

ter j

et. I

fell

asle

ep w

ith a

smile

on

my

face

. The

nex

t mor

ning

my

dad

wok

e m

e w

ith th

e ba

d ne

ws.

“Mom

my

has g

one

away

for a

whi

le.”

I lo

oked

up

at m

y da

d w

hose

face

seem

ed ti

red

and

old.

“Dad

dy, w

hen

can

we

go to

the

air s

how

aga

in?”

I was

hoo

ked.

Fro

m th

at d

ay o

n al

l I c

ould

talk

abo

ut w

ere

aero

plan

es. M

y da

d, o

bvio

usly

tryi

ng to

com

pens

ate

for

the

fact

that

my

bitc

h of

a m

othe

r had

just

wal

ked

out o

n us

, bou

ght m

e th

e m

ost s

pect

acul

ar to

y pl

ane

set y

ou c

ould

im

agin

e.I c

arrie

d th

em e

very

whe

re w

ith m

e.I r

efus

ed to

leav

e th

e ho

use

unle

ss a

ll th

ree

my

mas

ter a

ero-

plan

es w

ere

in m

y ba

ckpa

ck, r

eady

to se

e th

e w

orld

with

m

e. I

coul

dn’t

unde

rsta

nd w

hy o

ther

boy

s wer

e pl

ayin

g w

ith L

ego,

was

ting

thei

r tim

e to

bui

ld h

ouse

s and

pol

ice

stat

ions

, whe

n I c

ould

just

get

out

my

plan

es a

nd fl

y ar

ound

th

eir l

ittle

imag

inar

y ci

ty. I

land

ed e

very

whe

re, o

n th

eir

roof

s and

in th

eir g

arde

ns. I

eve

n sq

uash

ed a

few

of t

heir

Cha

pter

3

26

1415

men

som

etim

es, w

hen

my

land

ing

was

n’t p

erfe

ct (b

ut th

at

rare

ly h

appe

ned,

I w

as a

lway

s on

top

of m

y ga

me)

. Pre

tty

soon

they

got

tire

d of

me

ruin

ing

thei

r gam

e an

d on

ce a

gain

it

was

just

my

plan

es a

nd I.

I w

ould

run

arou

nd th

e sc

hool

-ya

rd fo

r hou

rs, “

flyin

g” fr

om th

e sw

ing

set t

o th

e sa

ndpi

t an

d ov

er to

the

doll

hous

e.

I was

hap

py.

Som

etim

es I

wou

ld n

otic

e th

e ot

her k

ids’

par

ents

look

ing

at m

e in

a w

eird

way

. I g

uess

they

wer

e fe

elin

g so

rry

for

me

beca

use

my

mom

had

left,

yet

they

nev

er sa

id a

nyth

ing.

To

me,

in a

nyw

ay. T

o be

hon

est I

don

’t th

ink

I rea

lly k

new

w

hat w

as g

oing

on

and

it di

dn’t

both

er m

e to

o m

uch.

My

dad

was

doi

ng a

gre

at jo

b of

taki

ng c

are

of m

e an

d w

ith m

y m

om o

ut o

f the

hou

se w

e ha

d al

l the

tim

e in

the

wor

ld to

go

to a

ir sh

ows.

We

star

ted

goin

g to

the

air f

orce

bas

e m

ore

ofte

n. T

his s

uite

d bo

th m

y da

d an

d m

e, a

s he

coul

d ca

tch

up

with

his

bud

dies

and

I co

uld

look

at a

erop

lane

s. So

on it

bec

ame

a w

eekl

y th

ing.

We

wou

ld sp

end

eith

er S

at-

urda

y or

Sun

day

hang

ing

arou

nd th

e ba

se. M

y da

d st

arte

d ac

ting

like

he w

as in

the

arm

y ag

ain,

drin

king

and

smok

ing

and

play

ing

card

gam

es fo

r hou

rs. A

fter w

e ha

d go

ne to

see

the

new

pla

nes w

e w

ould

go

back

to a

larg

e sh

ed w

here

the

plan

es w

ere

bein

g re

paire

d an

d th

ey w

ould

star

t the

ir ga

me.

I a

lway

s sat

a fe

w fe

et a

way

, pla

ying

with

my

toy

fleet

. I

rem

embe

r my

dad

swea

ring

a lo

t, w

hich

I fo

und

wei

rd a

s he

used

to a

lway

s tel

l me

to c

lose

ear

s bef

ore

sayi

ng a

nyth

ing

rude

.I s

uppo

se it

mus

t hav

e be

en to

ugh

for h

im. R

aisi

ng a

littl

e bo

y by

him

self.

At l

east

we

shar

ed o

ne sp

ecia

l thi

ng, o

ur

love

for t

he sk

y.

As s

oon

as I

coul

d re

ad I

star

ted

to d

evou

r eve

ryth

ing

I co

uld

on m

y fa

vour

ite su

bjec

t. M

y da

d co

uldn

’t bu

y al

l the

bo

oks t

hat I

wan

ted,

so h

e to

ok m

e to

the

libra

ry to

take

out

all t

he b

ooks

I w

ante

d. B

y th

e tim

e I s

tart

ed sc

hool

I ha

d re

ad a

nd m

emor

ised

“Th

e Fo

ur F

orce

s of A

erod

ynam

ics”

an

d I w

ould

wal

k ar

ound

the

hous

e ch

antin

g th

em:

“Lift

, thr

ust,

drag

,” a

nd m

y fa

vour

ite o

ne o

f all,

“gr

avity

.”I w

as lo

okin

g fo

rwar

d to

lear

ning

mor

e ab

out m

y pa

ssio

n at

sc

hool

, unf

ortu

nate

ly th

e te

ache

rs d

idn’

t sha

re m

y pa

ssio

n fo

r flyi

ng a

nd a

fter I

thre

w a

fir f

or h

avin

g to

read

“ B

etsy

go

es to

the

Mar

ket”

alo

ng w

ith th

e re

st o

f the

cla

ss m

y da

d w

as c

alle

d in

. The

teac

her t

old

him

I w

as “

disr

uptiv

e” a

nd

“a n

uisa

nce”

and

that

he

wou

ld h

ave

to m

ake

plan

to d

isci

-pl

ine

me

if I w

ante

d to

be

in h

er c

lass

. M

y da

d to

ld h

er sh

e co

uld

go fu

ck h

erse

lf (h

e di

dn’t

know

I w

as li

sten

ing

in o

n th

eir c

onve

rsat

ion)

and

took

me

hom

e.

That

was

my

last

day

at p

rimar

y sc

hool

. M

y da

d go

t a y

oung

teac

hing

stud

ent t

o ho

me

scho

ol m

e an

d I l

oved

it. S

he w

as th

e pr

ettie

st g

irl I

had

ever

seen

and

so

smar

t. Sh

e im

med

iate

ly p

icke

d up

on

my

love

for a

ircra

ft an

d pr

epar

ed a

ll he

r les

sons

aro

und

that

. Mat

hs c

onsi

sted

of

cou

ntin

g ae

ropl

anes

geo

grap

hy re

late

d ea

sily

and

his

tory

w

as a

lso

twea

ked

to b

e of

inte

rest

to m

e.Sh

e go

t me.

Whe

n sh

e ev

entu

ally

got

her

deg

ree

afte

r five

ye

ars a

nd w

ent o

ff to

teac

h at

a p

rivat

e sc

hool

I w

as in

-co

nsol

able

for w

eeks

. My

dad

trie

d to

che

er m

e up

with

a

bunc

h of

boo

ks o

n ae

ropl

anes

but

I w

as st

ill m

ad. I

cou

ldn’

t un

ders

tand

why

the

only

fem

ale

I kne

w w

ho sh

ared

my

grea

t pas

sion

had

to le

ave.

I r

efus

ed to

spea

k to

her

whe

n sh

e to

ld m

e sh

e w

as le

avin

g,

so sh

e w

rote

me

a lit

tle n

ote:

“Spr

ead

your

win

gs a

nd fl

y, T

eddy

.Lo

veD

oree

n”I o

nly

read

it a

bout

two

mon

ths a

fter s

he’d

gon

e an

d th

en

I wan

ted

to k

ick

mys

elf.

In m

y de

lusi

onal

stat

e I s

omeh

ow

27

1617

imag

ined

that

she

mea

nt I

shou

ld li

tera

lly fl

y an

d I b

ecam

e ob

sess

ed w

ith tr

ying

to a

chie

ve th

at.

I stu

died

boo

ks o

n fly

ing

mac

hine

s and

star

ted

to d

evel

op a

ra

nge

of p

roto

type

s. I t

este

d ea

ch o

ne b

y ju

mpi

ng fr

om th

e to

p of

our

em

pty

dogh

ouse

. Th

ey a

ll fa

iled

mis

erab

ly.

I had

just

abo

ut g

iven

up

all h

ope

of e

ver fl

ying

whe

n I

stum

bled

upo

n so

me

draw

ings

by

Leon

ardo

Da

Vinc

i. Th

ese

gave

me

a ne

w o

utlo

ok o

n lif

e. If

cou

rse

I did

n’t h

ave

a bi

cycl

e to

pow

er m

y m

achi

ne, b

ut I

was

insp

ired

none

-th

eles

s. I c

olle

cted

feat

hers

in o

ur g

arde

n an

d ar

ound

the

neig

hbou

rhoo

d fo

r a w

eek

and

star

ted

to b

uild

my

win

gs. I

gl

ued

them

to tw

o lo

ng b

ranc

hes c

over

ed w

ith c

ardb

oard

.Th

ey lo

oked

qui

te im

pres

sive

.Th

e te

st ru

n fr

om th

e do

ghou

se w

as a

gre

at su

cces

s. I

flapp

ed th

em a

bit

and

I cou

ld sw

ear i

t too

k m

e lo

nger

to

get t

o th

e gr

ound

than

it u

sual

ly d

oes.

It w

as fi

nally

tim

e fo

r me

to fl

y. I

was

set o

n sh

owin

g D

o-re

en a

nd m

y da

d an

d th

e te

ache

rs a

nd th

e bo

ys fr

om m

y cr

èche

that

cou

ld d

o it.

Ir

onic

ally

no

one

was

aro

und

for t

he b

ig m

omen

t. I h

ad

pict

ured

it in

my

head

so m

any

times

, me

flyin

g hi

gh u

p in

th

e ai

r whi

le e

very

body

stoo

d ga

ping

at m

e fr

om b

elow

. But

it

was

just

me.

I ran

to th

e si

de o

f the

hou

se, w

ith m

y w

ings

safe

ly u

nder

m

y le

ft ar

m. I

use

d th

e bu

rgla

r bar

s on

the

kitc

hen

win

dow

as

a la

dder

and

slow

ly m

ade

my

way

up

onto

the

roof

. I

was

clu

tchi

ng th

e w

ings

bet

wee

n m

y te

eth

by n

ow a

nd th

e fe

athe

rs a

lmos

t mad

e m

e ga

g.A

fter m

uch

effo

rt I

was

on

top.

I st

ood

up a

nd lo

oked

out

ov

er th

e qu

iet n

eigh

bour

hood

. It a

mus

ed m

e th

at n

o on

e w

as a

war

e of

the

fact

that

any

mom

ent I

cou

ld g

o fly

ing

past

thei

r win

dow

s. I t

ook

grea

t car

e in

stra

ppin

g on

my

win

gs a

nd fl

appe

d th

em a

few

tim

es ju

st to

mak

e su

re th

ey

wer

e st

ill in

tact

.Sw

oosh

-sw

oosh

. Per

fect

.I s

tepp

ed o

ver t

o th

e ed

ge o

f the

roof

and

look

ed d

own.

I co

uldn

’t be

lieve

my

eyes

. We

only

had

a o

ne-s

tore

y ho

use,

bu

t to

an e

leve

n ye

ar o

ld, t

hat’s

pre

tty h

igh.

I co

nsid

ered

ju

st d

ropp

ing

the

who

le th

ing,

but

I co

uldn

’t. I

wan

ted

to

prov

e m

ysel

f. So

I cl

osed

my

eyes

and

jum

ped.

I sur

vive

d. W

hich

was

a m

iracl

e co

nsid

erin

g th

at I’

d ju

mpe

d of

f a 5

met

er ro

of a

nd p

lum

met

ed st

raig

ht o

nto

the

cem

ent b

elow

. I d

on’t

rem

embe

r wha

t hap

pene

d af

ter I

hit

the

grou

nd b

ut I

wok

e up

in h

ospi

tal,

brui

sed,

ach

ing

and

cove

red

in p

last

er. T

he d

octo

r tol

d m

e I h

ad b

roke

n tw

elve

bo

nes a

nd c

hipp

ed a

noth

er e

ight

. I w

as g

oing

to h

ave

to b

e in

that

bod

y ca

st fo

r at l

east

four

mon

ths.

This

is a

lso

the

first

tim

e I w

as in

trod

uced

to a

psy

chia

tris

t. M

y da

d w

as ce

rtai

n th

at th

ere

had

to b

e so

met

hing

serio

usly

w

rong

with

me

men

tally

.“A

n el

even

yea

r old

doe

sn’t

just

jum

p of

f a b

uild

ing,

doe

s he

?” I

hear

d hi

m a

sk o

ne o

f the

nur

ses.

The

psyc

hiat

rist

was

am

azin

gly

nice

and

I fo

und

it ea

sy to

talk

to h

er. S

he

neve

r ask

ed m

e an

y se

rious

que

stio

ns a

nd w

e ba

sica

lly ju

st

spen

t an

hour

eve

ry d

ay c

hatti

ng. W

hen

I was

wel

l eno

ugh

to g

o ho

me,

I le

ft th

e ho

spita

l and

nev

er sa

w h

er a

gain

. She

m

ust’v

e to

ld m

y da

d I w

as o

kay,

bec

ause

he

neve

r ask

ed m

e to

see

a sh

rink

agai

n.

Reco

very

was

a n

ew a

dven

ture

. As I

was

trap

ped

in a

full

body

cas

t, I a

sked

my

dad

to b

ring

me

all t

he m

ater

ial h

e co

uld

find

on a

erop

lane

s. It

was

als

o du

ring

this

tim

e th

at I

disc

over

ed th

e ar

t of p

aper

aer

opla

nes.

As I

cou

ld fo

ld th

e pa

per m

ysel

f, I g

ot o

ur h

ouse

keep

er to

sit o

n m

y be

d an

d fo

ld th

e sh

eets

of p

aper

acc

ordi

ng to

my

stric

t ins

truc

tions

.

28

1819

At t

he e

nd o

f the

day

we

wou

ld g

o ou

tsid

e an

d se

e ho

w fa

r th

e ae

ropl

ane

coul

d fly

. I re

ad so

mew

here

that

the

long

est

fligh

t for

a p

aper

aer

opla

ne w

as 1

93 fe

et, a

reco

rd h

eld

by

a gu

y na

med

Ton

y Fl

etch

and

I m

ade

it m

y m

issi

on to

bea

t hi

m.

Of c

ours

e I n

ever

succ

eede

d, b

ut w

e ha

d a

lot o

f fun

tryi

ng.

My

dad

was

spen

ding

mor

e tim

e at

the

air f

orce

bas

e, b

ut

wou

ldn’

t let

me

go w

ith a

nym

ore.

It

star

ted

to g

et lo

nely

at h

ome,

as I

still

had

n’t a

ttend

ed a

n-ot

her d

ay o

f sch

ool i

n m

y lif

e an

d di

dn’t

have

any

frie

nds.

Whe

n I t

urne

d fo

urte

en I

anno

unce

d to

my

dad:

“I w

ant t

o go

bac

k to

scho

ol”

He

didn

’t as

k an

y qu

estio

ns. T

he n

ext d

ay h

e to

ok m

e to

the

high

scho

ol a

few

kilo

met

res f

rom

our

hou

se a

nd e

nrol

led

me.

It tu

rned

out

hig

h sc

hool

was

a lo

t bet

ter t

han

prim

ary

scho

ol a

nd I

had

lots

of f

riend

s. Th

e sc

hool

libr

ary

had

tons

of

boo

ks o

n ai

rcra

ft an

d I s

pent

mos

t of m

y tim

e in

ther

e re

adin

g ab

out m

y fa

vour

ite m

odel

s and

pho

toco

pyin

g pi

c-tu

res f

or m

y ro

om.

This

is a

lso

whe

re I

final

ly m

ade

up m

y m

ind

to b

e a

pilo

t. It

had

alw

ays b

een

my

drea

m, b

ut n

ow I

coul

d ac

tual

ly st

udy

thin

gs li

ke m

aths

and

geo

grap

hy, t

hat w

ould

hel

p m

e a

lot.

I w

as th

e ha

ppie

st I

had

been

in y

ears

. M

y da

d ad

I st

arte

d to

drif

t fur

ther

apa

rt, b

ut I

had

scho

ol to

oc

cupy

me

and

he h

ad h

is o

wn

prob

lem

s. I m

atric

ulat

ed w

ith a

dis

tinct

ion

and

got a

ccep

ted

into

the

Zwar

tkop

Aca

dem

y to

bec

ome

a pi

lot.

My

drea

m w

as b

e-co

min

g a

real

ity a

nd it

was

abo

ut to

get

so m

uch

bette

r.

Dur

ing

my

seco

nd y

ear a

t the

aca

dem

y I m

et m

y w

ife,

Dan

ielle

.I s

till r

emem

ber t

he d

ay w

e m

et. I

was

hav

ing

drin

ks w

ith

all m

y bu

ddie

s fro

m fl

ight

scho

ol w

hen

she

cam

e in

. She

w

as w

earin

g a

very

low

cut

dre

ss a

nd e

ver g

uy in

the

club

-ho

use

was

star

ing

at h

er. N

o on

e ha

d th

e ne

rve

to a

ppro

ach

this

god

dess

. I c

augh

t her

eye

a fe

w ti

mes

, but

she

was

with

a

very

unf

ortu

nate

-look

ing

girlf

riend

. I k

new

if I

wan

ted

to

get t

o kn

ow h

er so

meo

ne w

ould

hav

e to

occ

upy

her f

riend

. It

was

tim

e to

cal

l in

the

prov

erbi

al w

ingm

an. T

his t

erm

was

us

ed d

aily

at t

he a

cade

my

and

we

all k

new

wha

t it e

ntai

led,

bo

th in

the

air a

nd o

n th

e gr

ound

. I k

new

just

the

guy

for

the

job,

alth

ough

I al

so k

new

it w

ould

take

som

e co

nvin

c-

Cha

pter

4

29

2021

ing

and

a lo

t of r

um a

nd c

oke

to g

et h

im to

pla

y al

ong.

She

tu

rned

out

to b

e gr

eat.

She

imm

edia

tely

took

a li

king

to

me

(or a

t lea

st th

at’s

wha

t I th

ough

t, sh

e’s n

ever

den

ied

it).

We

spen

t the

who

le e

veni

ng c

hatti

ng a

nd I

foun

d th

at sh

e w

as a

lso

inte

rest

ing

in a

erop

lane

s. I c

ould

n’t b

elie

ve it

. I

had

lear

nt to

stop

obs

essi

ng o

ver t

hem

, but

som

ehow

, dee

p do

wn

I nee

ded

to fi

nd o

ut.

We

date

d fo

r abo

ut a

mon

th b

efor

e I p

ropo

sed.

She

was

ho

rrifi

ed a

nd to

ld m

e I w

as to

o so

on, s

o I w

aite

d…a

wee

k.

Then

I de

cide

d I w

ould

con

vinc

e he

r by

doin

g th

ings

the

old

fash

ione

d w

ay. I

ask

ed h

er d

ad, w

hom

I ha

d on

ly m

et

once

bef

ore,

if I

coul

d m

arry

his

dau

ghte

r.“A

re y

ou k

iddi

ng m

e?”

this

cha

rism

atic

man

lite

rally

la

ughe

d in

my

face

.W

hen

I ass

ured

him

that

I w

as n

ot a

nd th

at I

real

ly w

ante

d to

mar

ry h

is d

augh

ter,

he tu

rned

serio

us.

“Jus

t pro

mis

e m

e on

e th

ing,

” he

said

.I w

as p

repa

ring

mys

elf f

or th

e “Y

ou-e

ver-

hurt

-my-

daug

h-te

r-yo

u-w

ill-d

ie-s

peec

h”. I

nste

ad h

e to

ok m

y sh

ould

er

firm

ly in

his

righ

t han

d an

d st

ared

me

stra

ight

in th

e ey

e.“I

f you

eve

r, ev

er n

eed

anyt

hing

, alw

ays c

ome

to m

e.”

And

that

was

it. T

he v

ery

next

day

I pr

opos

ed a

nd sh

e sa

id

yes.

The

date

was

set f

or th

ree

mon

ths l

ater

. M

y da

d w

as th

rille

d w

hen

I tol

d hi

m. A

few

mon

ths e

arlie

r he

had

bee

n di

agno

sed

with

lug

canc

er a

nd h

is h

ealth

was

de

terio

ratin

g fa

st.

Dan

ielle

love

d m

y da

d ve

ry m

uch

and

spen

t the

day

s lea

d-in

g up

to o

ur w

eddi

ng in

hos

pita

l, by

his

side

, sup

port

ing

him

. I a

dmire

d he

r for

it. N

ow I

som

etim

es w

onde

r if s

he

was

n’t u

sing

him

as a

mea

ns to

dod

ge h

er m

othe

r who

was

ru

nnin

g al

l the

wed

ding

arr

ange

men

ts w

ith m

ilita

ry p

reci

-si

on. A

s sw

eet a

s Mrs

Mile

s was

, she

was

one

of t

he la

st o

ld-

scho

ol so

cial

ites,

who

se w

orld

revo

lved

aro

und

wed

ding

s, ch

riste

ning

s, 21

sts a

nd fu

nera

ls. A

ny e

vent

was

just

ano

ther

re

ason

to d

ress

up

and

show

the

wor

ld h

ow m

uch

mon

ey

they

had

.Sh

e w

as e

xtre

mel

y up

set w

hen

she

foun

d ou

t she

onl

y ha

d a

few

wee

ks to

pla

n th

e bi

gges

t day

of h

er o

nly

daug

hter

’s

life.

The

wed

ding

was

a fa

ncy

affa

ir. I

didn

’t re

cogn

ise

half

the

peop

le th

ere

and

I rem

embe

r won

derin

g at

one

stag

e if

anyo

ne w

ould

real

ly n

otic

e if

I was

n’t t

here

. The

n I c

augh

t D

anie

lle’s

eye

and

she

smile

d at

me

in a

way

I’ve

nev

er se

en

her s

mile

bef

ore.

Eve

ryth

ing

abou

t her

was

glo

win

g. P

eopl

e us

e th

at sa

ying

too

liber

ally

, but

on

that

day

I w

as c

erta

in

ther

e w

as a

littl

e ha

lo a

roun

d m

y yo

ung

wife

.M

y da

d co

uldn

’t at

tend

the

wed

ding

. His

con

ditio

n ha

d w

orse

ned

to su

ch a

deg

ree

that

he

had

trou

ble

turn

ing

over

in

bed

. He

pass

ed a

way

whi

le w

e w

ere

on o

ur h

oney

moo

n an

d le

ft us

the

bigg

est p

rese

nt w

e co

uld

ask

for.

Our

firs

t ho

me.

Dan

ielle

and

I m

oved

in im

med

iate

ly a

nd st

arte

d ta

lkin

g ab

out s

tart

ing

a fa

mily

. I o

nly

had

thre

e m

onth

s of

trai

ning

left

befo

re I

was

a q

ualifi

ed p

ilot a

nd w

e fe

lt w

e w

ere

as re

ady

as w

e’ll

ever

be.

Eve

ryth

ing

seem

ed p

erfe

ct

until

the

day

of w

hat t

urne

d ou

t to

be m

y la

st fl

ight

as c

ap-

tain

of a

pla

ne.

The

day

a lit

tle p

art o

f me

died

.

30

2223

I was

a n

ervo

us w

reck

. I h

ad b

een

prep

arin

g fo

r my

final

fli

ght e

xam

for m

ost o

f my

life

and

I cou

ldn’

t bel

ieve

it

whe

n th

e da

y fin

ally

arr

ived

. My

last

day

as a

stud

ent.

From

th

en o

n it

wou

ld b

e ju

st m

e an

d th

e sk

y. N

o in

stru

ctor

s or

capt

ains

yel

ling

at m

e to

do

som

ethi

ng. I

wou

ld m

ake

all

the

deci

sion

s and

fina

lly d

o th

e on

e th

ing

I’ve

wan

ted

to d

o si

nce

the

day

of m

y fir

st a

ir sh

ow.

I kne

w a

ll m

y m

ater

ial o

ff by

hea

rt. I

was

n’t g

oing

to le

t a

tech

nica

lity

stan

d in

the

way

of m

y dr

eam

. Thr

ough

out t

he

four

yea

rs a

t flig

ht sc

hool

I ha

d al

way

s bee

n th

e to

p st

uden

t, ge

tting

100

% fo

r eve

ry te

st a

nd fl

ying

like

an

abso

lute

pro

. Th

e fin

al h

urdl

e to

reac

hing

my

goal

was

my

final

pra

ctic

al.

I was

read

y.

Cha

pter

5

31

2425

Dan

ielle

got

up

early

that

mor

ning

to p

repa

re m

e m

y fa

vou-

rite

brea

kfas

t, po

ache

d eg

gs o

n br

own

toas

t, bu

t I w

as to

o ne

rvou

s to

eat.

I lef

t my

food

unt

ouch

ed a

nd d

rove

to th

e te

stin

g gr

ound

s. It

was

still

dar

k ou

tsid

e an

d I s

at a

lone

in

my

car,

visu

alis

ing

the

fligh

t and

men

tally

pre

parin

g m

ysel

f fo

r wha

t was

to c

ome.

Just

afte

r six

o’ c

lock

, my

exam

iner

ar

rived

. He

was

an

inst

ruct

or a

t ano

ther

flig

ht sc

hool

and

I’d

seen

him

aro

und

a fe

w ti

mes

, but

we

neve

r offi

cial

ly

met

. I k

new

he

was

one

of t

he b

est,

but a

lso

one

of th

e st

rict-

est.

He’

d be

en k

now

n to

fail

som

eone

for s

impl

y fo

rget

ting

to u

se th

e co

rrec

t ter

m fo

r clo

ud d

ensi

ty.

We

head

ed in

side

toge

ther

, to

fill o

ut th

e co

rrec

t for

ms a

nd

wai

t for

the

go-a

head

to st

art t

he te

st. H

e di

dn’t

say

a w

ord

to m

e as

we

fille

d in

the

num

erou

s for

ms a

nd w

hen

all t

he

form

aliti

es w

ere

done

he

nodd

ed to

war

ds a

smal

l aer

opla

ne

stan

ding

in th

e ha

ngar

and

utte

red

two

sim

ple

wor

ds:

“Let

’s g

o.”

My

hand

s sta

rted

shak

ing

ever

so sl

ight

ly. I

had

flow

n a

plan

e so

man

y tim

es b

efor

e, y

et th

is ti

me

it w

as d

iffer

ent.

This

tim

e, if

any

thin

g w

ent w

rong

my

drea

m w

ould

be

shat

-te

red.

I to

ok a

few

bre

aths

to c

alm

mys

elf a

s I c

limbe

d in

to

the

cock

pit.

It w

as a

per

fect

day

. The

skie

s wer

e cl

ear a

nd th

ere

was

ba

rely

any

win

d. M

y ex

amin

er g

ot in

the

seat

nex

t to

me

and

wai

ted.

I es

tabl

ishe

d co

mm

unic

atio

n w

ith th

e co

ntro

l to

wer

and

they

gav

e m

e th

e si

gnal

to ta

ke o

ff.H

ere

we

go.

I exe

cute

d a

perf

ect t

ake

off a

nd w

ithin

five

min

utes

we

wer

e so

arin

g in

the

air.

I aw

aite

d fu

rthe

r ins

truc

tions

from

m

y pa

ssen

ger,

but h

e ke

pt si

lent

, so

I circ

led

the

airp

ort a

fe

w ti

mes

and

then

hea

ded

nort

h. A

s soo

n as

I pa

ssed

ove

r th

e fir

s set

of h

ills I

beg

an to

rela

x. I

was

bor

n to

fly;

I si

mpl

y ha

d to

let m

y in

stin

cts t

ake

over

. We

flew

aro

und

for a

noth

-

er h

alf a

n ho

ur, m

y pa

ssen

ger s

till d

ead

quie

t. I w

as fl

ying

a

very

ligh

t pla

ne a

nd I

saw

that

we

wer

e ge

tting

low

on

fuel

. “I

’ll h

ave

to tu

rn b

ack

pret

ty so

on, t

he fu

el’s

get

ting

low

” I s

crea

med

ove

r the

noi

se o

f the

pla

ne, h

opin

g he

wou

ld

give

me

an in

dica

tion

of w

hat e

lse

he e

xpec

ted

me

to d

o be

fore

I pa

ss. H

e ju

st lo

oked

at m

e an

d no

dded

. So

I tur

ned

the

plan

e ar

ound

in o

ne sm

ooth

mot

ion

and

head

ed b

ack

tow

ards

the

airp

ort.

We

wer

e ab

out t

en m

inut

es a

way

from

th

e ai

rpor

t whe

n he

fina

lly tu

rned

to m

e.“Y

ou k

now

you

faile

d be

fore

we

even

took

off.

” H

e w

as

dead

serio

us.

I alm

ost l

ost c

ontr

ol o

f the

pla

ne.

“I w

ha…

how

?” I

was

find

ing

it ha

rd to

spea

k. H

e w

ent o

n w

ithou

t loo

king

a m

e.“Y

ou n

ever

per

form

ed a

n in

spec

tion

of th

e pl

ane

befo

re w

e le

ft. Y

ou p

ut b

oth

our l

ives

in d

ange

r and

I’m

afr

aid

I can

’t gi

ve y

ou y

our l

icen

se.

The

insp

ectio

n! O

f cou

rse.

I ha

d be

en so

ner

vous

I co

mpl

ete-

ly fo

rgot

to c

heck

that

the

plan

e w

as sa

fe to

take

off.

How

co

uld

I hav

e be

en so

stup

id?

I sat

in si

lenc

e as

I sa

w th

e ai

rpor

t com

ing

clos

er. I

had

bl

own

it. M

y vi

sion

wen

t blu

rry

as I

felt

the

tear

s wel

l up.

I sw

allo

wed

a fe

w ti

mes

to re

gain

my

com

posu

re, b

ut it

was

ha

rd.

As w

e fin

ally

got

to th

e ai

rpor

t trie

d to

est

ablis

h ra

dio

con-

tact

with

the

tow

er a

gain

, but

he

stop

ped

me.

“I’ll

giv

e yo

u on

e m

ore

chan

ce.”

He

frow

ned

as h

e lo

oked

at

me.

“Say

you

r pla

ne w

as d

efec

t and

you

did

n’t p

ick

it up

, be-

caus

e yo

u fe

lt it

was

unn

eces

sary

to c

heck

you

r pl

ane

be-

fore

take

-off…

”A

gain

I fe

lt m

ysel

f go

brig

ht re

d w

ith e

mba

rras

smen

t.“L

et’s

say

your

eng

ine

cut o

ut. I

wan

t you

switc

h of

f one

32

2627

engi

ne a

nd p

erfo

rm a

n em

erge

ncy

land

ing.

If y

ou su

ccee

d, I

will

giv

e yo

u yo

ur li

cens

e. If

you

don

’t…”

He

didn

’t ha

ve to

fini

sh. I

kne

w w

hat w

ould

hap

pen

if an

em

erge

ncy

land

ing

faile

d. I

coul

dn’t

belie

ve th

e am

ount

of

pres

sure

this

guy

was

put

ting

on m

e, b

ut I

felt

a lit

tle b

ette

r kn

owin

g he

was

trus

ting

me

with

his

life

as w

ell.

I too

k a

few

bre

aths

and

reac

hed

over

to sw

itch

off o

ne e

n-gi

ne. I

mm

edia

tely

the

plan

e sw

erve

d to

the

side

and

I ba

t-tle

d to

kee

p co

ntro

l of t

he st

eerin

g w

heel

. It t

ook

me

a fe

w

mom

ents

to g

et th

e pl

ane

stra

ight

ened

out

aga

in a

nd th

en I

prep

ared

mys

elf f

or th

e la

ndin

g. I

glan

ced

over

at m

y pa

s-se

nger

who

was

look

ing

slig

htly

pal

e an

d sm

iled

to m

ysel

f.In

a fe

w m

omen

ts I

wou

ld sh

ow h

im w

hat I

was

mad

e of

. Th

e pl

ane

was

losi

ng sp

eed

and

air r

apid

ly a

nd I

notic

ed th

e gr

ound

was

clo

ser t

han

I had

ant

icip

ated

. I p

ulle

d th

e le

ver

to re

leas

e th

e w

heel

s as w

e ap

proa

ched

an

altit

ude

of 5

00

met

res.

Not

hing

hap

pene

d. T

he p

lane

kep

t goi

ng lo

wer

and

low

er

and

the

whe

els w

ould

dro

p. I

star

ted

bang

ing

on th

e le

ver,

desp

erat

ely

tryi

ng to

get

it to

wor

k bu

t it w

as n

o us

e. W

e w

ere

now

onl

y a

few

hun

dred

met

res a

bove

the

grou

nd a

nd

I kne

w I

wou

ld h

ave

to la

nd th

e pl

ane

with

out w

ells

. Dou

-bl

e em

erge

ncy

land

ing.

I ha

d ne

ver d

one

tat b

efor

e in

my

life,

but

I w

as su

re I

coul

d do

it. I

kne

w it

wou

ld b

e be

tter t

o la

nd in

a fi

eld

or in

tree

s tha

n on

the

tarm

ac a

nd tu

rned

the

nose

of t

he sm

all a

ircra

ft in

the

dire

ctio

n of

an

open

fiel

d.

We

wou

ld h

it th

e gr

ound

in a

few

seco

nds a

nd I

brac

ed m

y-se

lf, w

aitin

g fo

r im

pact

. We

hit t

he g

roun

d an

d I f

elt m

ysel

f lu

rchi

ng fo

rwar

d an

d th

en sh

akin

g fr

om si

de to

side

like

a

rag

doll.

The

soun

d of

scra

tchi

ng m

etal

was

dea

feni

ng a

nd I

pray

ed it

wou

ld a

ll be

ove

r soo

n. A

fter a

bout

a m

inut

e or

so

it w

ent q

uiet

and

I he

ard

the

stee

l fac

e sa

y.“W

ell d

one

boy,

you

des

erve

this

.”

I trie

d to

than

k hi

m b

ut I

coul

dn’t

spea

k. I

open

ed m

y m

outh

a fe

w ti

mes

, but

no

wor

ds c

ame

out.

I rem

embe

r try

-in

g to

lift

my

head

and

then

I bl

acke

d ou

t fro

m th

e pa

in.

I wok

e up

in h

ospi

tal a

few

day

s lat

er. M

y lic

ense

was

lyin

g by

my

beds

ide

tabl

e an

d D

anie

lle w

as sl

eepi

ng in

a c

hair

in th

e co

rner

of m

y ro

om. I

trie

d to

reac

h fo

r the

littl

e pi

ece

of p

aper

but

I co

uldn

’t m

ove.

I w

as in

a fu

ll bo

dy c

ast.

The

acci

dent

. I c

ould

n’t t

urn

my

head

, so

I rol

led

my

eyes

all

the

way

o th

e si

de to

look

at t

he li

cens

e I h

ad w

ante

d al

l my

life.

Fi

nally

I ha

d it,

but

I kn

ew I

wou

ld n

ever

be

able

to u

se it

. I b

ecam

e w

ithdr

awn,

refu

sing

to ta

lk to

any

one

incl

udin

g m

y do

ctor

s and

Dan

ielle

. She

eve

ntua

lly g

ave

up a

nd a

sked

th

e do

ctor

for a

psy

chia

tris

t. I t

houg

ht b

ack

of m

y fir

st e

xpe-

rienc

e w

ith a

psy

chia

tris

t as a

n 11

yea

r old

.W

hat g

ood

was

a b

it of

cha

tting

goi

ng to

do

me

now

?Th

e ps

ychi

atris

t loo

ked

a lo

t diff

eren

t fro

m th

e on

e I r

emem

-be

red.

I do

n’t k

now

why

, but

at t

hat m

omen

t I e

xpec

ted

my

child

hood

psy

chia

tris

t to

wal

k in

ther

e an

d te

ll ev

eryo

ne to

st

op w

orry

ing,

I w

ould

be

fine.

But

she

didn

’t. T

he o

nly

one

who

cou

ld d

o th

at fo

r me

was

a b

ald

little

man

with

stra

nge

glas

ses a

nd a

hal

f-sm

ile.

He

spok

e to

me

abou

t thi

ng I

coul

dn’t

unde

rsta

nd. A

fter

a w

hile

I sw

itche

d of

f and

dec

ided

to ju

st le

t him

talk

. He

didn

’t ap

prec

iate

this

. As t

he w

eeks

dre

w o

n th

ese

appo

int-

men

ts g

ot m

ore

and

mor

e tir

ing

and

even

tual

ly I

just

pre

-te

nded

to b

e as

leep

whe

n he

cam

e in

to m

y ro

om.

I sle

pt a

lot.

Mos

t of m

y st

ay in

hos

pita

l wen

t by

in a

blu

r of

pai

nkill

ers a

nd d

ream

s. D

anie

lle w

as a

lway

s the

re y

et I

doub

t whe

ther

I sp

oke

mor

e th

an th

ree

sent

ence

s a d

ay w

ith

her.

The

day

of m

y re

leas

e w

as g

ettin

g cl

oser

and

I w

as lo

okin

g fo

rwar

d to

just

goi

ng h

ome

and

resu

min

g m

y lif

e, a

lthou

gh

I had

no

idea

wha

t I w

ould

do.

My

inju

ries w

ere

so se

rious

33

2829

the

doct

or a

ssur

ed m

e I w

ould

nev

er b

e ab

le to

fly

a pl

ane

agai

n. T

he n

ight

afte

r he

said

that

to m

e I t

hrew

aw

ay th

e lit

tle p

iece

of p

aper

that

was

till

ling

by m

y be

d. It

was

use

-le

ss.

The

day

final

ly a

rriv

ed w

hen

I cou

ld le

ave

the

ster

ilise

d ju

ngle

and

go

hom

e. D

anie

lle fe

tche

d m

e w

ith h

er d

ad’s

ca

r and

four

mal

e nu

rses

had

to h

elp

me

get i

n th

e ba

ck. I

le

aned

aga

inst

the

win

dow

, ext

rem

ely

unco

mfo

rtab

le in

my

body

cas

t. I w

atch

ed th

e st

reet

s go

by in

a b

lur.

Dan

ielle

was

ve

ry q

uiet

in th

e fr

ont a

nd it

suite

d m

e. I

didn

’t kn

ow w

hat

to sa

y to

her

.W

hen

we

pass

ed b

y th

e w

ay to

our

hou

se I

coug

hed

to g

et

her a

ttent

ion.

She

look

ed a

t me

in th

e m

irror

and

just

kep

t on

goi

ng.

“You

’re n

ot re

ady

to g

o ho

me

Ted.

” Sh

e m

anag

ed to

cro

ak,

her e

yes w

ellin

g up

with

tear

s.“W

hat t

he fu

ck?”

I w

as li

vid

“Whe

re a

re w

e go

ing?

”Sh

e w

as ta

ken

abac

k by

my

sudd

en o

utbu

rst.

Then

she

burs

t out

in te

ars a

nd c

ame

clea

n.I c

an’t

rem

embe

r all

of w

hat s

he sa

id, b

ut it

cam

e do

wn

to

the

fact

that

the

bald

psy

chia

tris

t had

dia

gnos

ed m

e w

ith

depr

essi

on a

nd re

com

men

ded

I spe

nd th

e re

st o

f my

reco

v-er

y tim

e in

a m

enta

l ins

titut

ion.

A fu

ckin

g lo

ony

bin.

I was

ther

e fo

r thr

ee m

onth

s, bu

t if f

elt l

ike

an e

tern

ity. I

n he

ll.D

urin

g th

e fir

st w

eek

I ref

used

to sp

eak

to a

nyon

e. T

hen

one

nigh

t a fr

iend

ly n

urse

sat d

own

on m

y be

d an

d ex

plai

ned

to

me

that

in o

rder

for m

e to

get

bet

ter,

I wou

ld h

ave

to p

ar-

ticip

ate

in th

erap

y. S

o I s

tart

ed se

eing

a p

sych

iatr

ist.

This

tim

e it

was

som

eone

I co

uld

talk

to a

nd I

felt

at e

ase

agai

n.

My

new

psy

chia

tris

t pre

scrib

ed so

me

anti-

depr

essa

nts a

nd

mon

itore

d m

y pr

ogre

ss. A

fter a

mon

th I

was

read

y to

spea

k

to D

anie

lle a

gain

.W

e ha

d a

long

talk

abo

ut h

ow I

felt

she

betr

ayed

me

and

she

expl

aine

d sh

e w

as o

nly

doin

g it

to h

elp

me.

I ac

cept

ed th

is

(the

drug

s mad

e m

e ve

ry fo

rgiv

ing)

and

soon

she

cam

e to

se

e m

e ev

eryd

ay. W

e st

arte

d bu

ildin

g up

our

rela

tions

hip

agai

n an

d ev

en ta

lked

abo

ut h

avin

g ki

ds. I

cou

ldn’

t wai

t to

get o

ut o

f tha

t shi

t hol

e an

d ba

ck to

my

life.

Whe

n th

ey fi

nally

rele

ased

me,

Dan

ielle

was

n’t t

here

to p

ick

me

up. O

utsi

de I

saw

the

big

blac

k M

erce

des w

aitin

g an

d I

knew

who

had

com

e to

fetc

h m

e.Th

e dr

iver

ope

ned

the

door

and

I go

t in.

Mr M

iles t

urne

d to

m

e w

ith a

n en

orm

ous g

rin o

n hi

s fac

e.“I

’ve

got a

pro

posi

tion

for y

ou.”

And

that

’s h

ow I

cam

e to

wor

k fo

r my

fath

er-in

-law

.

34

3031

The

corp

orat

e w

orld

suite

d m

e. B

eing

the

boss

’ onl

y so

n-in

-la

w m

eant

onl

y a

few

mon

ths o

f tra

inin

g be

fore

I w

as g

iven

a

job

as a

ccou

nt m

anag

er. I

had

a lo

t of p

ower

. Nev

er h

avin

g be

en in

tere

sted

in a

nyth

ing

but a

erop

lane

s I h

adn’

t con

sid-

ered

any

alte

rnat

ive

jobs

to b

eing

a p

ilot,

but I

got

the

hang

of

bus

ines

s and

to m

y ow

n su

rpris

e I r

eally

like

d it.

At fi

rst I

was

em

barr

asse

d ab

out t

he fa

ct th

at I

only

got

the

job

beca

use

of D

anie

lle’s

dad

, but

I go

t ove

r it w

hen

my

first

pr

oper

pay

che

ck c

ame

in. w

hoev

er sa

id m

oney

can

’t bu

y ha

ppin

ess m

ust’v

e be

en a

poo

r los

er. D

anie

lle a

nd I

mov

ed

into

a b

igge

r hou

se a

nd w

ere

livin

g a

good

life

. Her

dad

tr

avel

led

a lo

t and

pre

tty so

on I

was

in c

harg

e of

runn

ing

the

who

le Jo

hann

esbu

rg b

ranc

h of

his

com

pany

. I w

as in

my

Cha

pter

6

35

3233

elem

ent.

I wor

ked

long

day

s and

pla

yed

golf

over

wee

k-en

ds. D

anie

lle st

arte

d to

com

plai

n th

at I

was

spen

ding

too

muc

h tim

e aw

ay fr

om h

ome,

so I

boug

ht u

s a h

uge

man

sion

in

the

Moo

iklo

of G

olf E

stat

e. T

here

I co

uld

play

gol

f with

out

bein

g to

o fa

r fro

m h

ome

and

she

coul

d ke

ep h

orse

s and

go

ridin

g ev

ery

day.

Our

live

s had

turn

ed o

ut so

diff

eren

t fro

m

wha

t we

had

imag

ined

whe

n w

e fir

st g

ot m

arrie

d, b

ut w

e w

ere

happ

y ag

ain.

We

wer

e th

e m

ost p

erfe

ct d

amn

coup

le

in th

e w

orld

.I h

ad b

een

five

year

s sin

ce m

y ac

cide

nt a

nd I

thou

ght I

had

m

oved

on.

I so

ld a

ll m

y m

odel

aer

opla

nes a

nd g

ot ri

d of

all

my

flyin

g ge

ar. M

y ob

sess

ion

was

bec

omin

g so

met

hing

of

the

past

. I d

id h

owev

er d

o ev

eryt

hing

I co

uld

to st

ay a

way

fr

om a

irpor

ts a

nd a

erop

lane

s, as

it st

ill h

urt w

hen

I tho

ught

ba

ck o

f wha

t cou

ld h

ave

been

, but

for t

he m

ost p

art I

had

m

oved

on.

Then

one

day

I go

t a c

all f

rom

the

boss

. The

re w

as a

mee

t-in

g in

New

Yor

k he

was

supp

osed

to a

ttend

, but

he

brok

e hi

s leg

skiin

g in

Sw

itzer

land

and

he

need

ed a

repl

acem

ent.

I he

sita

ted.

“I d

on’t

know

, Phi

l.” w

as a

ll I c

ould

say.

But h

e in

sist

ed a

nd so

the

next

day

Dan

ielle

took

me

to th

e ai

rpor

t for

the

first

tim

e in

six

year

s. I w

as sc

ared

, exc

ited

and

nerv

ous.

As w

e tu

rned

a c

orne

r and

I sa

w th

e ta

ils o

f th

e bi

g Bo

eing

747

on

the

tarm

ac m

y he

art s

tart

ed to

race

. A

ll m

y ol

d fe

elin

gs c

ame

rush

ing

back

to m

e in

a se

cond

an

d w

hen

Dan

ielle

par

ked

at th

e dr

op-o

ff zo

ne I

jum

ped

out

of th

e ca

r and

ran

into

the

airp

ort a

t ful

l spe

ed, l

eavi

ng h

er

stan

ding

nex

t to

the

car.

Whe

n I r

etur

ned

I was

a c

hang

ed m

an. M

y ob

sess

ion

grew

by

the

day

and

Dan

ielle

cou

ldn’

t und

erst

and

it. O

ur m

ar-

riage

star

ted

to c

rum

ble.

To

add

even

mor

e pr

essu

re, o

n th

e da

y I g

ot b

ack

from

the

trip

she

info

rmed

me

she

was

pre

g-

nant

. I w

as d

efini

tely

not

read

y to

rais

e a

child

. I d

idn’

t eve

n re

mem

ber w

e w

ere

tryi

ng.

I sta

rted

to is

olat

e m

ysel

f aga

in a

nd st

ayed

at t

he o

ffice

till

late

at n

ight

, rea

ding

up

on th

e la

test

dev

elop

men

ts in

the

airc

raft

indu

stry

.W

hen

I got

hom

e on

e ni

ght t

here

was

a n

ote

from

Dan

ielle

.“I

’m g

oing

to li

ve w

ith m

y pa

rent

s for

a w

hile

. I’m

car

ryin

g yo

ur c

hild

and

you

’re n

ever

her

e. I

can’

t do

this

alo

ne.”

I tos

sed

the

note

to th

e si

de a

nd w

ent t

o be

d. T

he n

ext

mor

ning

I ha

d m

ade

up m

y m

ind

and

I pho

ned

an e

stat

e ag

ent.

Ther

e w

as n

o w

ay I

was

stay

ing

in th

at m

ansi

on b

y m

ysel

f and

bes

ides

, id

seen

a g

reat

littl

e ap

artm

ent t

o re

nt

the

last

tim

e I w

as a

t the

airp

ort.

By th

e w

eeke

nd I

had

al-

read

y se

ttled

into

my

new

pla

ce. D

anie

lle fi

nally

show

ed u

p a

few

day

s lat

er.

36

3435

Shit

on w

alls

. Tha

t’s w

hat y

ou g

et. I

onl

y tr

uly

unde

rsto

od

the

expr

essi

on “

the

shit

hits

the

fan”

whe

n m

y w

ife c

ame

hom

e to

find

our

furn

iture

gon

e an

d an

est

ate

agen

t (ve

ry

char

min

g yo

ung

man

with

ala

rmin

gly

whi

te te

eth)

show

ing

a sw

eet y

oung

cou

ple

our d

inin

g ro

om.

Ther

e’s a

cer

tain

shad

e of

red

your

wife

goe

s whe

n sh

e re

a-lis

es h

er h

usba

nd c

ares

mor

e ab

out a

erop

lane

s tha

n ab

out

her a

nd I

guar

ante

e yo

u it’

s not

a sh

ade

you

wan

t to

see

on

anyb

ody.

I k

now

it w

as a

bit

selfi

sh o

f me

to m

ove

all o

ur st

uff w

ith-

out c

onsu

lting

her

, but

it w

as m

y ho

use,

afte

r all.

And

the

aero

plan

es re

ally

wer

en’t

the

only

reas

on I

wan

ted

to m

ove.

I w

as tr

avel

ling

a lo

t mor

e fo

r bus

ines

s and

it ju

st m

ade

Cha

pter

7

37

3637

sens

e to

get

a p

lace

clo

ser t

o th

e ai

rpor

t. I w

as g

oing

to e

x-pl

ain

it al

l to

her a

s soo

n as

she

wou

ld g

ive

me

a ch

ance

to

talk

to h

er.

But s

he c

ame

hom

e in

a fu

ry a

nd w

hat e

nsue

d w

as th

e ug

liest

figh

t I h

ad e

ver b

een

in. I

ass

ume

my

pare

nts h

ad a

si

mila

r figh

t the

nig

ht m

y m

om le

ft.I j

ust s

tood

and

wat

ched

her

scre

am. T

he lo

ve o

f my

life,

the

appl

e of

my

eye.

The

bitc

h I h

ave

to b

lam

e fo

r bei

ng in

this

sh

it-ho

le. S

he’d

nev

er b

een

able

to u

nder

stan

d m

y lo

ve o

f ae

ropl

anes

. She

thou

ght i

t’s a

n ob

sess

ion,

a d

isea

se.

“Som

ethi

ng y

ou n

eed

help

for,

Tedd

y” sh

e m

ade

it cl

ear.

I’ll h

ave

to a

dmit

I fel

t a b

it so

rry

for h

er, a

ll pr

egna

nt a

nd

big

and

upse

t. I f

elt l

ike

a bi

t of a

bas

tard

for w

hat I

had

be

en p

uttin

g he

r thr

ough

and

told

her

I w

ould

mak

e it

up to

he

r.Sh

e di

dn’t

wan

t to

liste

n. S

he k

ept g

oing

on

abou

t how

I ha

d a

dist

urbi

ng o

bses

sion

and

that

I ne

eded

hel

p. I

took

of-

fenc

e, o

f cou

rse,

but

to a

void

the

risk

of m

akin

g he

r fac

e go

pu

rple

, I k

ept m

y m

outh

shut

.W

hen

she

final

ly c

alm

ed d

own

afte

r abo

ut a

n ho

ur o

f sol

id

yelli

ng a

nd so

bbin

g sh

e go

t to

the

poin

t of h

er v

isit.

“You

can

eith

er g

et h

elp,

or I

’m le

avin

g yo

u” sh

e w

as se

ri-ou

s.“w

hat d

id y

ou h

ave

in m

ind?

” I d

idn’

t wan

t to

upse

t her

ag

ain.

She

expl

aine

d th

at sh

e ha

d fo

und

a gr

oup

calle

d A

nora

ks

Ano

nym

ous i

n th

e cl

assi

fieds

and

she

wan

ted

me

to g

o to

a

mee

ting.

I la

ughe

d ou

t lou

d.“A

n an

orak

, lik

e a

coat

?”Sh

e w

as to

o tir

ed to

arg

ue.

“Jus

t go

to o

ne m

eetin

g, p

leas

e. It

will

cha

nge

your

life

”

She

was

righ

t. M

y lif

e is

com

plet

ely

chan

ged…

for t

he

wor

se. I

’m in

a b

ig g

rey

hall

with

all

the

path

etic

lose

rs I

wis

h I’d

nev

er m

et. S

ure

ever

yone

says

they

are

diff

eren

t, bu

t we’

re a

ll he

re b

ecau

se w

e ha

ve a

pro

blem

. Exc

ept f

or

me.

I am

bet

ter t

han

them

. I a

m n

ot o

bses

sed

with

any

thin

g;

I jus

t enj

oy in

tere

stin

g th

ings

abo

ut p

lane

s. A

nd fl

ying

. And

ho

w p

lane

s fly.

But

that

doe

sn’t

mak

e m

e a

frea

k.I t

urn

my

atte

ntio

n ba

ck to

the

room

just

as s

ome

toile

t fa-

natic

fini

shes

his

stor

y an

d ev

eryo

ne is

cry

ing.

Tru

e as

fuck

I ca

nnot

bel

ieve

this

is w

hat m

y lif

e ha

s com

e to

. Che

erin

g fo

r a

guy

who

find

s toi

lets

fasc

inat

ing.

I ge

t up

and

wal

k ou

t. A

s I m

ake

my

way

tow

ards

the

door

, I h

ear t

hem

pra

ying

to

geth

er.

Cha

pter

8

38

3839

“God

gra

nt u

s the

sere

nity

to a

ccep

t the

thin

gs w

e ca

nnot

ta

lk a

bout

, the

cou

rage

to ta

lk a

bout

the

thin

gs w

e ca

n an

d th

e w

isdo

m to

kno

w th

e di

ffere

nce.

”Fu

ckin

g pa

thet

ic.

It’s q

uite

an

unfa

mili

ar th

at c

omes

ove

r me

as I

wal

k do

wn

the

step

s of t

he c

omm

unity

hal

l. Th

e ci

ty is

dar

k ar

ound

me

as I

head

in th

e di

rect

ion

of th

e se

ven

stor

ey-p

arki

ng g

arag

e w

here

I ha

d le

ft m

y ca

r ear

lier t

onig

ht. I

wal

k sl

owly

, al-

mos

t sau

nter

ing,

enj

oyin

g th

e si

lenc

e ar

ound

me.

My

head

is

spin

ning

as I

reca

ll th

e ni

ght I

had

just

had

and

my

wife

’s

nerv

e to

act

ually

put

me

thro

ugh

such

an

orde

al.

Wha

t an

inco

nsid

erat

e bi

tch.

She

had

the

nerv

e to

ask

me

to c

hang

e m

y w

hole

bei

ng ju

st

beca

use

she

need

s som

eone

to ta

ke c

are

of h

er w

hile

she’

s pr

egna

nt. T

hat’s

all

it is

. Tha

t’s a

ll it

coul

d be

. She

nev

er

com

plai

ned

so m

uch

abou

t my

love

for fl

ying

bef

ore

she

took

that

pre

gnan

cy te

st. I

t’s li

ke th

e te

st re

ad:

Dan

ielle

: PO

SITI

VE

Tedd

y: N

EGA

TIV

E, y

our w

hole

life

will

be

so fu

ckin

g ne

ga-

tive

from

now

on.

As I

wat

ch th

e cr

acke

d pa

vem

ent m

ovin

g be

neat

h m

y le

athe

r loa

fers

an

idea

star

ts to

form

in m

y he

ad. a

s I w

alk

tow

ards

my

car t

he id

ea g

row

s eve

n m

ore.

Who

is sh

e to

say

I can

not fl

y? D

oes s

he re

ally

exp

ect m

e to

gi

ve u

p ev

eryt

hing

I ev

er w

ante

d fo

r som

eone

who

cou

ldn’

t bo

ther

to sh

ow a

n in

tere

st in

my

hobb

ie?

I thi

nk n

ot.

I wal

k pa

st m

y ca

r and

bac

k to

the

emer

genc

y st

airs

. I sw

ing

open

the

heav

y st

eel d

oor a

nd th

e st

ench

of u

rine

alm

ost

mak

es m

e vo

mit.

I ho

ld th

e la

pel o

f my

jack

et o

ver m

y he

ad

and

star

t to

run

up th

e st

airs

. It’s

onl

y fo

ur o

r five

flig

hts u

n-til

I re

ach

the

top.

I op

en th

e do

or a

nd in

hale

a fr

ech

brea

th

of c

ool n

ight

air.

The

top

floor

is d

eser

ted

exce

pt fo

r one

car,

cove

red

in d

ust a

nd m

ud. I

t loo

ks li

ke it

’s b

een

stan

d-in

g th

ere

for m

onth

s. I l

ook

arou

nd a

nd m

ake

my

way

ove

r to

the

far s

ide

of th

e ga

rage

. I fi

nd a

spot

whe

re th

e sa

fety

fe

nce

is b

roke

n an

d ge

t up

onto

the

ledg

e.I c

lose

my

eyes

and

cou

nt d

own.

Thre

e…tw

o…on

e.Th

e w

ind

rush

es p

ast m

y ea

rs a

nd th

ey st

art t

o rin

g. I’

m

goin

g fa

ster

and

fast

er a

nd m

y ey

es a

re fl

icke

ring

but I

kee

p th

em sh

ut ti

ghtly

.Fi

nally

I am

flyi

ng.

39

40

The

End

40

Mute Date

“Let’s go and chill over at my place.”

She looks over at him, lazily trying to lift a heavy eyelid. Saturday night

saw the two of them letting go and the alcohol was still trying to work

itself out of her system.

“It’s six thirty in the morning, why don’t we just stay here?”

He props himself onto his elbows, frowns at the sad sight in front of him

and proclaims:

“I’ve got a TV.”

She contemplates this, impressed by the reasoning and picturing the

possibilities of what her day could hold. Trying to make awkward

conversation with the guy she barely knows but just woke up next to, or

spending the day silently in front of a television equipped with more

channels than she can imagine. It’s a very simple decision.

“Ok, let’s go”

Without saying another word to each other they get up, get dressed and

head for his place on the other side of town. The better side. Where people

have 54-inch television sets and surround sound. They don’t speak. Just

when the silence is about to become unbearable he switches on the radio.

She is relieved at her narrow escape from having to try and make

conversation again.

His flat looks different from what she expected. Not as cosy, not as fancy,

it resembles something between a hotel and a jail. She enters the front door

hesitantly and stands around. She feels light-headed, still slightly

disoriented from the previous night’s drunken debauchery.

Her throat starts to close up and she is about to be enveloped by the swirl

of spots that cloud her vision when he enters behind her and announces:

“ Oh right, the TV is through there and to your right.”

“Thanks.”

41

She hastily sets off to find the source of her salvation and as she turns the

corner she beholds not a 54-inch entertainment system. No she gazes upon

a marvellous 72-inch high definition flat screen wonder. Better yet, instead

of the uncomfortable couch she was expecting (and has gotten used to in

her own place) there is a majestic L-shaped couch with fluffy scatter

cushions just waiting to be occupied.

“Is it ok….”

He’s not listening to her. He’s not even in the room. She decides to just

make herself at home as he was obviously not up for much conversation or

entertaining.

She settles on the part of the couch that allows her to lie at a comfortable

angle, perfectly parallel to the giant screen. Awkward. He joins her on the

couch, his head conveniently close to hers and their bodies at a right angle.

Again they don’t speak. He picks up the remote control and passes it to

her.

“ You decide…”

She flicks between her favourite channels and contemplates watching a

documentary she’s seen about twelve times before. She finally settles on a

movie, the kind of cheesy romantic comedy that requires the least amount

of concentration.

For the next two hours they lie in silence, watching the screen flicker in

front of them. As the movie draws to a close he reaches his hand behind

his head and takes hers. She squeezes his hand tightly and smiles to

herself.

The credits roll over the super-sized screen she resists the urge to say

anything. She closes her eyes and falls into a deep sleep.

A few hours later she wakes up to the snoring of a guy she barely knows.

She takes a minute to orientate herself and then she notices the blank

screen. The date is over. She gets up and mutters:

“I think I should go home now.”

42

A Lion in the Bedroom

By

Henda Scott

Adapted from "A Lion in the Bedroom" by Pat CavendishO’Neill

43

ACT 1

EXT.PORCH.DAY

Pat, and elderly woman is sitting on the porch of her house,Broadlands. She is surrounded by many animals, includingdogs, baboons and a chimpanzee on her lap.

PAT(NARRATING)Africa changed me. This beautifuldark continent changed me from ashy timid girl into a woman whocould outwit a crocodile, run ahousehold in the remote wilds andfall in love with two of Africa’smost beautiful creatures: a hunterand a lion. This wonderful richlife seemed so far removed from myown, yet somehow I always knew itwas destined for me. I cannotimagine my life without Africa andall it’s wonders and I owe it allto the woman who first introducedme to this magical world: Mymother.

EXT.PORCH.DAY

Enid, a middle-aged woman resembling Pat is sitting on thelarge steps leading out of the dining room onto the patio atLa Fiorentina, her house in the South of France. She issurrounded by pets of all shapes and sizes.

ENIDJeanne, please prepare the tablesoutside, we will be dining alfresco today.

MAIDOf course madam, how many tablesshall I set up?

ENIDOh I’m sure the big one at the endwill be sufficient.

MAIDNo guests today, madam?

(CONTINUED)

44 CONTINUED: 2.

ENIDOh no Jeanne, they’ve all taken theship back to England.

MAIDYou are not going back?

ENIDOh no dear, poor Duke is in nostate to make the journey. Whichreminds me... Will you pleaseprepare him a small tray with somebread and butter?

MAIDUm, there’s no butter left madam,we’ll have to make some more.

ENIDHow is that possible? I made somejust last week and no one but Patand Duke eats it.

MAIDWell, madam, I wasn’t sure if Ishould tel you, but Rory’s friendhas been sneaking into the kitchenand taking some for herself. Shehides them under her corsets.

ENIDWell I never! Don’t worry Jeanne,I’ll take care of it.

Rory, a beautiful young man arrives with his friend Phyllis.They have just finished a game of tennis and are carryingtheir rackets.

RORYMother. Beautiful day, isn’t it?

ENIDYes it is, darling. Did you have agood game?

RORYOh it was lovely! We’re justheading in to get ready for lunch.

Rory and Phyllis head up the stairs.

(CONTINUED)

45CONTINUED: 3.

ENIDJust a minute Phyllis, could I havea word please?

Phyllis turns around and heads back down the stairs to whereEnid is standing.

PHYLLISWhat can I do for you, Enid?

ENIDI have been informed that you arestealing food form a sick man and achild. I and everybody else gowithout and I am not having one ofmy guests disobeying the rule.Therefore you must find somewhereelse to stay.

Phyllis, clearly upset but not daring to protest, heads backup the stairs.

ENIDBefore lunch, please.

Enid returns her attention to her pets.

EXT.COURTYARD.LATE AFTERNOON.

Enid, Pat and Rory are having dinner around a large table.They each have a meagre portion of food, served on thefinest plates, with sliver cutlery.

RORYMother, I have decided to go backto the United States and enlist inthe army.

ENIDBut you can’t leave! The war isalmost over, why on earth would youwant to do such a thing?

RORYThe war is far from over, mother.The Germans are getting closer toParis and soon the whole of Francewill be occupied. You can’t stayhere either.

(CONTINUED)

46 CONTINUED: 4.

ENIDWell there’s not much we can dodear, the ship left for Englandweeks ago.

RORYI’ve heard that they’ve organized arefugee ship to bring all Britishcitizens back from France. WhenParis falls, no-one in France willbe safe.

ENIDWell, I’ll speak to Duke, but herefused to make the first journey,I doubt he’ll have changed hismind.

RORYJust try mother. Please.

They constinue to eat in silence.

INT.KITCHEN.NIGHT

Enid is in the dark kitchen, packing away the new butter shehas made and melting candles to make soap. Pat sits on thefloor, watching her mother with curiosity.

PATMummy, is Duke going to die?

ENIDWhy darling, what would give youthat idea?

PATOne of the nurses said he is’fatally ill’. When daddy wasfatally ill, he died.

ENIDNo darling, this is nothing likethat. Duke is just a little weakfrom not having enough to eat. Thedoctors are looking after him andhe’ll soon be better. Now come helpme with this candle and stopworrying.

Pat joins her mother at the table and helps her hold thesoap mold. A maid enters.

(CONTINUED)

47CONTINUED: 5.

MAIDThe doctor is here, madam.

Enid stops what she is doing, takes off her apron and turnsto young Pat.

ENIDDuke needs me, darling. Please keepan eye on the saucepans and makesure the grease does not boil over.

Enid leaves with the maid and Pat is left alone in thekitchen in front of the stove. She stays there while it getscolder and darker and eventually all the candles burn down.

INT.PAT’S BEDROOM - LA FIORENTINA.MIDDAY

A mourning Enid is helping Pat get ready for their journeyback to England, pinning notes into little curls in herhair.

ENIDWe should have left a long time agodarling. Rory was right, this warisn’t going to end anytime soon.

PATWill we be going back to BurroughCourt, mummy? I’d love to seeeveryone again.

ENIDI’m afraid not, dear. I’ve receivedword that Burrough Court wasdamaged during a bombing attacklast year. We’ll go back and liveat Duke’s old place in London.

PATBut why London,mummy? Isn’t itdangerous there?

ENIDAs dangerous as anywhere else mydarling. At least we’ll have a niceplace to live and we’ll be close tolots of colleges. I think it wouldbe wise for you to take up a typingcourse so you can get yourself ajob.

(CONTINUED)

48 CONTINUED: 6.

PATA job?

ENIDYes dear, there’s a dire need forsecretaries in many of the waroffices in London. I’ve spoken withone of my friends at the AmericanEmbassy and they would love to haveyou help out there on a regularbasis.

PATI suppose i could help out... Itwould keep me busy.

ENIDGood, that’s settled then.

Enid continues to pin notes into Pats hair.

INT. TRAIN. NIGHT

PAT(NARRATING)The train ride home wasn’t what iexpected at all. I was used tobeing treated with respect, becausewe had money. Everyone on the trainwas looking depressed and no-onespoke. There was a sense of fearhanging around the carriage, sodifferent from the other trainrides I had taken in my life. Thischange was the first of manychanges that awaited me back inLondon.

EXT. STREET. MORNING

PAT(NARRATING)Life in London certainly hadchanged. I finished my typingcourse in no time and got the jobmummy’s friend promised me at theembassy.

Pat and her chaperone are walking from their home to her newjob at the American embassy. Pat has a dog with her.

(CONTINUED)

49CONTINUED: 7.

MAIDAre you excited for your first day,Miss Pat?

PATOh yes, very. Mummy’s friend soundslike a really nice man and I get towork with lots of girls my age.

MAIDYou’ll make a lot of friends, I’msure.

PATOh yes, I can’t wait.

MAIDUm, just one thing, miss Pat. Areyou sure the dog is a good idea?I’ve never heard of someone takingtheir pets to work, let alone ontheir first day.

PATOh, stop worrying, it’s perfectlyfine. I couldn’t bear to leave herat home, and mummy has written me anote to explain.

MAIDYes I see. If you say so.

They walk along in the direction of a big building.

EXT.AIRPORT.AFTERNOON

Pat is walking down the steps of a small aeroplane, carryinga few bags. Pierre d’Unienville is waiting for her on thetarmac, holding a tiny cat in under his arm. She heads overto him.

PATMy, what a flight!

She kisses Pierre and notices the little cat.

PATGoodness, what do you have there?

PIERREA present for you, darling.

(CONTINUED)

50

the end