Find Me

Chapter One

"Be careful, Honey," said Ashley's mother, hugging her daughter.

"I will, Mom," Ashley promised. Ashley was flying to Paris, France to see her Aunt Jacqueline, whom she hadn't seen in six years. She was flying alone for the first time ever.

Ashley hugged her mother one last time and walked over to the tunnel that leads to the plane. She waved goodbye and began down the tunnel. She stepped into the cockpit and went down the aisle between the first class seats. Ashley's aunt had payed for the ticket, so Ashley would be flying first class. She checked her boarding pass for the seat number, found her seat, then sat down. She stuck her pink duffel bag underneath the seat and relaxed.

After many more people had boarded, an announcement came on.

Ding, ding-"The plane will be departing in a few moments, please fasten your seatbelts." Ashley did so. "Please make sure all overhead storage bins are closed, as contents may shift during flight. If you all would please take the safety pamphlets from the seat in front of you, we will review safety procedures." Ashley took out her pamphlet and look it over as the woman on the intercom continued reading it. It was covered in pictures of big inflatable slides coming out of the plane, and these weird maskish things dangling down from the ceiling.

After the attendant had finished reading the pamphlet, she said "Locate the emergency exit nearest you, as this will be used in case of emergency. Your seat cushion can be used as a flotation device, and-" she continued telling about safety instructions.

Ashley grabbed a catalog from the pouch on the seat. It was filled with overpriced things she would never use, nor could she imagine someone else using.

Another announcement came on, and the plane began to move. Ashley gripped the armrests of her seat. Takeoff had always scared her.

After the plane had been flying for a few minutes, Ashley calmed down. She took a book out of her duffel bag and started reading. But soon enough the words started to blur on the page, and Ashley's eyes began to droop. She fell fast asleep.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The plane will be landing in fifteen minutes, please fasten your seatbelts and close the trays on the back

of your seats." Ashley had never taken off her seatbelt, though she normally did.

She sat impatiently for a few minutes, tapping her foot. 'Come on, plane,' she thought. 'Lets go already!'

Finally, they reached the airport. The plane was heading down, about to touch the ground. Poof! The wheel touched down. The plane shook as it rolled down the runway.

"Please remain seated until the plane has come to a complete stop," the voice on the intercom said. Ashley stared out the window at the airport. The sky outside was gloomy and gray.

Once the plane stopped, Ashley unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her duffel bag out from beneath the seat. It was still unzipped from when she had gotten out her book. Wait, her book! Her mother had

bought it for her for the trip.

Ashley looked around frantically. 'Phew,' she thought when she located it between her side and the wall. She put it into her bag and zipped it up. She was rising up out of her seat when the person next to her shot her a dirty look.

"Excuse me, little girl, but I'm on the aisle. And people on the aisle get out before people in the window seat, just so you know. Now, if you would kindly remember this, because I'm on your next flight, the one to Paris, then that would be just dandy," the woman said rudely.