Meet Everett Earnshaw, a restless teenager who's willing to give up anything to fly a plane. But despite the support of his friends and family and the joy of befriending the newest RAF cadet Amelia, life is far from evergreen.
You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way! - Dr Seuss
*
Amelia: hey I know this is crazy last minute but
Amelia: would u like to go to Italy with me at 4am (for 3 days)?
These were the texts that Everett saw just as he was traipsing up the stairs at half 11 in his blue-and-red chequered pyjamas. An abroad adventure with Amelia? Of course he would go!
Everett: Count me in!
So it was that Everett casually announced to his recumbent mother that he would be eating pizza in Italy for the next three days. She gave him a sleepy thumbs-up and rolled over in her King-size bed. As Everett and Amelia sorted out the finer details in a text conversation, Everett assembled clothes and toiletries to go in his little black suitcase. Three short-sleeved shirts; two pairs of shorts and one pair of tracksuit bottoms; shower gel, toothpaste, flannel, towel and more were all somehow stuffed into the small suitcase. Then he got into bed, setting an alarm for 4 am and hoping to get at least a little sleep.
*
"She played the fiddle in an Irish band, but she fell in love with an Englishman..."
Everett jolted awake to the lyrics of Ed Sheeran – he'd forgotten he'd set that as his alarm. Instead of turning the alarm off, he went down to breakfast with his phone still blaring out the music and got out his cereal things in time to the music. By the time the song was over, he'd finished his bowl of cookie crisp – now all that was left to do was shower, get dressed and wait for Amelia to –
DING DONG!
She was already here? But it was only 10 to 4! With celerity, he pulled on his green shorts and red and white shirt – he was going for Italian flag colours – and raced down the stairs with his suitcase.
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"Ready?" asked Amelia.
"Ready as I'll ever be!"
*
On the plane, Amelia flipped open an Italian phrasebook. Everett, not being versed in Italian, opted to read a tourist guidebook instead. It offered a sneak peek of sunny days ahead - gnocchi, gelatos and gondolas galore. His toes started tapping unknowingly on the floor.
"Your toes are very loud," commented Amelia.
"My arse is also very loud," replied Everett. Amelia snorted. Then an air hostess with sleek black hair in a bun came up and handed them a menu.
"Let's test your claim," said Amelia, "you get the English breakfast with beans."
