Flying Mile High Chapter 14.5
#24 of Flying Mile High
12.40: Perth time: The ground marshal ran his batten across his throat, which gave Gwen and Bob the cue to shut down all four engines. The air bridge was driven to door number one left, and the ground crew pulled the door handle before twisting it anti-clockwise to open the exit.
Janice stood watching as the passengers grabbed their belongings and left the plane. The moment the two teenage tigers stood up, she stuck her middle finger up at them for being such assholes. Although the two boys didn't notice her, they were so humiliated from their stupidity that they tried to cut the long line of passengers trying to leave the plane.
"Quit pushing assholes!".
The sound of punches were heard which followed by the sound of two boys screaming. Janice smiled to herself as she knew that the two boys have been punished. Once her section was empty, she went to escort the Labrador puppy to her parents.
Janice walked over and knelt beside the puppy that was still asleep in her seat. She gently placed her paw on the puppy's cheek and spoke to her with a soothing voice.
"Wake up sweetie, time to see Mum and Dad".
The Labrador groaned as she opened her eyes.
"Are we there yet?".
"Yep!. Let's grab your stuff and head off the plane".
Janice unbuckled the seatbelt, and grabbed the puppy's small backpack. She took her by the hand and walked her down the aisle.
"What's your name sweetie?". Asked Janice.
"My name is Miriam. Mummy and Daddy says it means miracle, but I don't know what that means".
Miriam walked through the business class section when she noticed how long the plane is.
"Why is this aeroplane so long?".
"Because it can carry around 300 people". Replied Janice.
Miriam's jaw dropped, this was a number she never came across before.
"Is there a control room on this aeroplane?".
"Yes, it's at the very front of the plane".
"Do you know how to fly an aeroplane?". Asked Miriam.
"No darling, but I can take you to the control room to meet the driver. A driver of a plane is called a pilot".
Janice walked Miriam past the first class section when she noticed Bob leaving the flight deck with a reflective ground crew vest on.
"William, is Gwen still in the cockpit?".
"Yup, she's doing some paperwork".
Janice knocked on the door and asked for Gwen's permission to let Miriam in.
"Bring her in". Requested Gwen.
Janice backed off while Miriam ran into the flight deck. Upon seeing Gwen, she tried to hide her face into her t-shirt.
"Don't be shy sweetheart. What's your name?".
Miriam was too bashful to reply. Gwen noticed the hostess Teddy bear Miriam was holding.
"What's your friend's name?".
Miriam slowly lifted her head from her t-shirt.
"Her name is Rosie. She whispered her name into my ear Mrs. Pilot".
Gwen chuckled to herself, this puppy is unbelievably cute.
"Why don't you sit over there?".
Gwen pressed a button on her seat which moved it backwards. Gwen got out of her seat and gently lifted Miriam up. The puppy started giggling as Gwen placed her onto the Captain's seat. Gwen grabbed her pilot's hat and placed it on the Labrador's head. Janice who was peering in from the door, started laughing. Miriam was a perfect match to the oversized hat. Gwen took out her mobile phone and took a picture of 'Miriam In a Hat'.
"Smile!".
Miriam smiled at the camera and a picture was taken.
"Mrs. Pilot, where's the steering wheel?".
"It's this little stick here".
Gwen pointed to the joystick to show Miriam the control stick.
"What is this computer?".
Miriam was pointing at the navigational display.
"It's a map". Gwen replied.
Miriam's eyes lit up immediately.
"Can we find treasure on the map?".
Gwen thought for a second before turning on the VOR display on the screen. A series of radial waypoints appeared on the screen of the screen.
"See all those points on the map?. That's where we can find treasure". Janice checked her mobile phone and noticed that Miriam had been in the cockpit for 20 minutes already. If they were to wait any further, her parents might start to become worried.
"Gwen, I need to bring her back to her parents". Informed Janice.
Gwen nodded her head and told Janice that she will join her when returning Miriam to her parents.
"Come on Miriam; let's go find Mummy and Daddy". Announced Gwen.
Gwen picked her up from the captain's seat and carried her out of the flight deck.
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Miriam's parents were waiting anxiously at the arrivals area for their daughter to arrive. Miriam's mum checked her watch; it's been 30 minutes since the plane arrived at Perth. Out of the crowd, her parents spotted their daughter on top of a senior first officer's shoulders and a flight attendant carrying her backpack. Miriam had a teddy bear in one hand and Gwen's hat on her head. She had a huge smile on her face as she flew above the rest of the crowd.
"Miriam!". Shouted her father.
The 3 girls turned around and saw him waving.
"Mummy!. Daddy!". Shouted Miriam.
Janice lowered Miriam from Gwen's shoulders and she went running to her parents, who were shocked in awe.
"What did you do to her?". Questioned her father.
"She's never spoken a word for 1 year. The paediatrician diagnosed her with autism". Declared her mother.
"We were only doing our job. My responsibility is to make sure each passenger reaches their destination safely and comfortably". Replied Gwen.
"My job is to take care of each passenger and fulfill their every single need". Replied Janice.
Miriam's parents were now in tears. They embraced both Gwen and Janice to express their thankfulness towards them.
"How can we ever repay you?". Asked Miriam's mother.
"It is our duty to serve our customers. There is no need for rewarding our right doings in our job. Seeing someone appreciate our effort is a blessing that is big enough already". Answered Janice.
Janice passes a clipboard with a sheet of paper on it and asks Miriam's parents to sign their names. Gwen requested for their ID to verify that they were her legal guardians. Once everything was complete, it was time to say good-bye. Gwen kneeled in front of Miriam to talk to her at eye level.
"You look great in that hat, I want you to keep it. I also want you to have this".
Gwen took off her Air Tangara pin and attached it to Miriam's t-shirt.
"Take good care of yourself alright?".
Miriam gave Gwen one last hug and they left. Janice and Gwen smiled to themselves, they have been reminded the main purpose of their job. As Miriam was leaving the terminal with her parents, her dad received a message on his mobile phone. When he opened the message, he found a picture of Miriam in the Captain's seat of an airliner with a pilot's hat on her head.
Gwen put her mobile phone away and made her way past the crowd of passengers towards her plane. Janice was following along when she noticed someone familiar at a café. It was the vixen with her ski mask off. She was chatting with her friend who appeared to be blind. Janice stopped in her tracks and gave her a salute. The vixen turned around and gave her a thumbs up.