Part 1 Flight
Cherry pomegranate exploded on my tongue as I swept it across my lips in an attempt to moisten them. No one ever tells you just how dry the air in an aircraft is and because it’s cold you are less likely to drink water in fear that you will need to use the restroom often. It is a conundrum first time and experience fliers get caught in. My advice is to drink lots of water, an airplane’s atmosphere is tantamount to being in the Sahara Desert, extremely dry.
That being said there is still a time and place for everything so when the blue call lights flashed, quickly followed by a ding. It could be only one of three things, a pax wanted medical assistance, which from the lack of raised voices I would rule out. They wanted something to drink, or they wanted to use the lavatory. Regardless we were already on the descent, so I swung my head to check the window breaking my brace pose. I quickly snapped my head straight as the plane slammed into the ground and jerked a few times before settling into the smooth taxing routine everyone was used to. Exasperation skimmed through me, I had been too late to relax my body and avoid my neck jarring from the initial touch down. I grimaced in pain and cursed at the pilot, an ex-military man I would guess from the way the plane hit and bounced.
After nine years of being a flight attendant you started to pick up on certain things like this based on how they land. I sighed in annoyance as I rubbed the nap of my neck and easing the twinge of muscle, I knew I would be feeling tomorrow. Just as I was turning to look at Anne, my fellow jumpseat companion. A head of dark hair poked its head around the corner. “The bathroom doors are closed?!” I raised an eyebrow at the accusatory tone of her voice and almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it. We made two announcements, one about ten minutes before initial descent and another when we began descending for the last call as the rest rooms would be closed until we reached the gate. Clearly ‘Karen’ hadn’t listened or better yet thought the announcement didn’t apply to her. I turned away, immediately dismissing her as we were still moving, and I was the farthest away from the bathroom and would not be unbuckling to open up for her no matter what. There were way too many death like scenario that came to mind about flight attendants moving around during taxing and getting into an accident of some kind. It wasn’t going to happen to me and from the corner of my mind I saw Anne hesitate to move even as the woman’s voice went up another octave.
A flush stained Annie’s checks was all the warning I needed to know that she was about to yell at the passenger so I jumped in keeping my voice clipped and stead and oozing with disapproval, “We will have to call the captain and ask for permission to open the lavs, as standing or using the lavatories during an active taxing is prohibited by the F.A.A. She scowled but I again ignored her and reached for the interphone. I decided to call the lead flight attendant instead knowing that calling the pilots during an active runway taxing was a big no, no. “Hi Mary, I have a passenger who would like to use the rest room, yes I have told her and she insists that we open the door for her…Okay I will let her know. Hanging up the interphone. I turned to Annie purposefully ignoring the ‘Karen,’ “she said if you can reach the latch for the bathroom without getting up to go ahead and open it for her.” Anne nodded once, her green eye sparkling in anger and for a moment I wondered if she would be malicious and not try but as always Vehentre flight attendants were always professional. She turned until her legs were parallel with lavs and flipped the lock open. “You’re welcome” She intoned to the ‘Karen’ who had just yanked the door open without a word.
The overwhelming stench of ammonia flared into the air making both Anne and I wrinkle our noise in disgust. Normally I would spray my small bottle of air freshener, but I had secured before taking my position for landing.
The air vibrated with Anne’s pissy energy as she glared at the closed door so I drew her into frivolous conversation that I knew would keep her distracted. Another two or three minutes passed by before we pulled up to the gate and Mary called for the doors to be disarmed and check in. I gave the door my full focus disarmed and crossed check Ann’s before I allowed my mind to wonder. July was almost finished, and I still hadn’t taken a vacation. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to but because I couldn’t figure out where in the world I wanted to go. I had seen a lot of it, even repeated a few but they were now all, unappealing. The plane emptied slowly, you would think people would be dying to get into sin city and turn up but almost as though to spite me because I wanted off but the egress of the passengers seemed to take forever. I wonder if it was time to go home, the thought alone caused my heart to quicken as the very idea of going home sent little shivers of terror clamoring up my spine.
I jumped a bit when Anne stuck her head around the corner, “are you coming, or are you going back with the plane?” “It’s empty?!” my startled response slipped past my lips “yea girl it’s time to go, are you laying over here?” I shook my head, “no I am the spinner on the team my flight goes back in a hour I think. Wait, there is an hour difference right, so I’ll be sitting in the airport for about two.
Anne laughed, “the joys of being a flight attendant.” I nodded and both of us rolled off the plane, it was unlikely that we would see each other again. I rarely if ever meet the same flight attendant.
Walking off the plane I was instantly hit by the throng of people lined up at the gate and mulling around. I had reached my people quota and should have stayed home today, technically it was my day off but when I saw that we had white flag day 2.5% of normal pay I couldn’t help my greediness. Who was I kidding, there was no telling when I would need more money, it was better to have as much as possible stored away for a rainy day or days, more like. I sighed deeply chasing the memories and dread away I was still on the clock all I needed now was a corner to hide in while I waited for my next flight. I would worry about those things tomorrow or better yet another day.
