Jenny in the Sky

Night Time Flying

Sometimes, just sometimes, Jenny broke the rules.

Every night, the air field and the aircraft sheds were patrolled by watchmen. Usually, there were two or three, in strict shifts. Theoretically at least.

Jenny knew there was only one watchman that night. She knew he happened to be her good friend, Nathan Smith. She also knew where the garage keys were kept.

A full moon bathed the fields in eerie light. A few men were practicing landing in the dark, and if another plane were to join them it would be sure to go unnoticed. Jenny crept up behind Nathan, as he stood outside the building, and grabbed his shoulder.

Nathan swung his torch around, his face white and his eyes wide and alert. His opened mouth slackened to a scowl as he saw who it was.

"Stupid girl," he snarled "what if I had sounded the alarm? We'd both had been in trouble. Shouldn't you be at home?"

Jenny grinned. Despite his tendency to rudeness, Nathan was a very nice person, and Jenny trusted him more than most.

"Well, I was wondering.."she began.

"No," he said, face impassive "we agreed last time was the last time."

"But it's Christmas."

"It's mid January."

"Same thing."

Nathan looked at her. She opened her eyes pleadingly.

"Please."

"No."

"I'll get you hot chocolate."

Pause.

"No."

"Please," cried Jenny "Its full moon, and there are other planes out, and it's only you on guard. It's a perfect situation!"

Nathan glared at her.

"And what will happen when your caught? I'll get fired, that's what."

"But you won't," pleaded Jenny "I'll make up some story to fob off suspicion, you know I'm good at that. Ten minutes, ten minutes is all I need, and I promise I will never ask again!"

He sighed, and turned to face her. Jenny gave him a quick, reassuring smile. She knew when he was beat.

"Ten minutes," he said, regretting the decision already.

"Yes! Oh, thank you so much!" Jenny cried, jumping forward to hug him. She ran into the flight office, being careful to avoid the creaky floorboards, and plucked the garage keys from their hook. Then, with careful precision and calculated thought, she went to choose her plane.

The garage door clicked open. Jenny winced, her breath short and shallow. She slipped inside and passed her torch over the silent machines. Her gaze flickered over the more flashy, popular models, before settling on the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. 

The Whitley was an ugly plane. It was a heavy bomber, reliable and robust but lacking in appealing features. Needless to say it was not a favorite. Jenny stroked the paintwork. She liked reliability. The Whitley was something she could trust. 

A network of pulley's later, and she had the plane out of the doors and on to the runway. Nathan's shadow twitched nervously under the shine of his torch, but Jenny didn't notice. She pulled a pair of flying goggles over her head, and switched on the controls. 

A distance stutter of other planes soared above. Jenny grinned, put the gears into action, and swept away. 

She was up, up and away. The biting wind snatched at her ungloved hands, but she didn't feel a thing. The plane swooped around, sailing on the moon bathed clouds and swooping past wisps of sky. Jenny let a woop of delight escape her. There was no better feeling than flying. 

She circled the surrounding fields twice, the aircraft casting a supernatural shadow on the frosted lands below. The gust ate into her nose, creeping round the contour's of her face. Jenny steered the plane round, and swooped it down to the ground, suddenly aware of how cold she was.

"Your five minutes late," Nathan grumbled as she got out. She ignored him and ran for cover from the icy weather.

Jenny sighed as she entered the warmth of inside. Reaching up, she returned the keys on tiptoe, just as the door behind creaked open. Jenny swung around. There stood Wilson, looking furious and intimidating despite his navy pajamas.

"Jenny Parker," he said, coldly "What a surprise."

Jenny gulped. She twiddled her hands nervously, and he glared at her.

"Sit." he said.

She sat.

 "I had my doubts. I knew this... position of yours was shaky from the start. The only reason I allowed you to continue was in honor of your father."  He pulled out his chair and sat, facing her from across the desk.

"And then, as if to rub it in, you steal one of the planes and take it out to fly in the dark, not only putting yourself at risk, but a perfectly functional aircraft."

"I didn't steal-"

"And what if you'd have crashed? What if you crashed into the building and killed everyone in it? That plane contains explosives, you know."

Jenny hung her head. She hadn't realized how great the risk had been.

"However, you did not crash. You navigated a plane in the dark, despite little previous practise, and landed without a hitch. And that is why," he paused, twiddling his thumbs, "I have decided you are going to help train the new recruits and demonstrate correct flying techniques."

Jenny's head jerked up. She stared at Wilson in surprise.

"You don't mean..." she whispered.

"You'll also be on dish duty for a month."

A smile stretched it's way across Jenny's face. She jumped out of her chair, and rushed forwards.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" she cried "I wont let you down!"

"No," Wilson agreed, "you'd better not." He extracted himself from his chair and opened the door. Jenny practically skipped out, her heart was so light. She was going to fly! She was going to fly without the fear of being stopped and questioned! It wouldn't be as exciting as actually going out and fighting, but it wasn't as dangerous either. Jenny felt like right now, she had made her father proud.