Member-only story
The Terror of Silence at Altitude
When a loud boom on a plane changes everything in an instant
Millie was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. The short flight to her final destination was her third in the last twenty-four hours. She was looking forward to a nap.
The plane was an older twin-engine jet with two seats on each side. Millie and her husband James were almost at the back of the plane. The flight attendant was a middle-aged blonde woman with a sense of humor and a smile, which comforted her.
She asked them what they wanted to drink. “Apple juice?” Millie asked — she wasn’t sure why but she always craved apple juice on airplanes. “Sure thing, sweetie,” said the attendant, whose name was Sheila. “Do you want ice hon?” she asked and Millie replied, “Yes please.” Apple juice without ice was unthinkable!
There was a soldier sitting in the row behind Millie. He was dressed in his civvies but the staff knew he was military and had offered him a seat up front to thank him for his service. “No thanks, I’m fine here,” he said cheerfully.
Millie couldn’t help but overhear the conversation the soldier was having with the man beside him. He was flying to see his childhood sweetheart, apparently. She didn’t get the full details but he seemed very excited.
