Into The Depths

Chapter 5

It took me fifteen minutes to find the airport. It took forever because I had traveled through the back roads so no one from my neighborhood would recognize me and tell my mother. I threw my bag over my shoulder and made my way into the huge building. As I reached the glass sliding door, that was so clean you would have never guessed that they had doors, to the place I put my head down. I kept my eyes on the checkered patterned floor so the cameras wouldn’t get a glimpse of my face. I headed towards the first ticket-selling booth. “How may I help you?” a nice lady asked me. She had deep red hair and blue eyes. She had a perfect smile as well. I knew she had to be an angle at least from what dad told me.

“One way ticket to Tampa Florida, please.” I stated to her.

It took me fifteen minutes to find the airport. It took forever because I had traveled through the back roads so no one from my neighborhood would recognize me and tell my mother. I threw my bag over my shoulder and made my way into the huge building. As I reached the glass sliding door, that was so clean you would have never guessed that they had doors, to the place I put my head down. I kept my eyes on the checkered patterned floor so the cameras wouldn’t get a glimpse of my face. I headed towards the first ticket-selling booth. “How may I help you?” a nice lady asked me. She had deep red hair and blue eyes. She had a perfect smile as well. I knew she had to be an angle at least from what dad told me.

“One way ticket to Tampa Florida, please.” I stated to her.

“Ok, and will it be just for you darling?” She asked as she started typing into the computer in front of her.

“Um, yes it will be.” I replied.

“Ok, I need to see your ID please.” She stated as she continued to quickly type.

“Will a student ID be ok?” I softly ask.

“Yes it will and the ticket will be a hundred and two dollars.”  She replied as she stared at me patiently waiting for them.

“Ok,” I took out my wallet from the front pocket of my suitcase and handed the student ID along with the money to her.

“Thank you very much; your flight should be boarding in five minutes.” She said as she started typing again. She handed me back my student ID.

“Thank you very much.” I said as she handed me the ticket. As I walked away I read the ticket to see which port I would be leaving from. It read port 5. I looked up in search for port five sign. It hung from the ceiling about maybe two hundred feet from me the words port 5 were painted in blue on a white background. I quickly raced over to the ramp right under the sign I had just been looking for. As I walked down the ramp a bright green light read NOW BOARDING! I briskly walked down the ramp and exited to the runway of my flight. Hot air quickly surrounded me as the door shut behind me. The sun was brighter than I had remembered. I sprinted to the all white airplane. I climbed up the flight of metal stairs and aboard the plane. I walked down the long aisle and stopped and stuffed my suitcase into an open white compartment right above a seat numbered twenty-three. I slumped into my navy blue seat and closed my eyes. I felt like I fell into a cotton ball. “Excuse me but can we slide through?” I opened my eyes to find a young couple standing beside me waiting for me to move so they could sit in the two empty seats beside me. They both had brown hair and brown eyes. They were about average weight and height. They also seemed very friendly.

“Yeah, sure I will move for you guys.” I answered as I got up and stepped to the side. They slid into the two empty seats and I sat back down. I looked around almost all the seats were full now. Why didn’t I hear the rest of these people get on? I wasn’t sleeping I know that for a fact.

       “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome on board Alitalia flight 679 service from New York to Tampa. Our flight time will be eight hours and forty-five minutes. We ask you to sit in your seats and have your seat belts securely fastened so we can have an on time departure. We ask that all carry on bags be placed in the seat in front of you, or in the overhead bins. Please use safety when opening these bins during the flight and upon arrival as heavy objects may have shifted during the flight. The use of electronics including but not limited to cell phones, cameras, TV sets, electronic games, and laptops with CD-ROM drives is strictly prohibited during flight as it can seriously interfere with the aircraft's navigational and communications systems. Certain other devices may be used on board only after obtaining prior permission from the flight crew. Cell phones may not be used during the entire duration of this flight until the aircraft’s doors are opened in Tampa. Your seat belt must be fastened during takeoff and landing and when the seatbelt signs are turned on. Place on end of the metal buckle into the other and pull on the loose end of the strap to tighten. To unbuckle simply press the red button in the center on the buckle and pull apart. This aircraft has ten main exits and two upper deck exits. Please locate the exit nearest to you. If you are located in an exit row you must be able to see the exit, hear and carry verbal commands from the crew, and a direct path to the exit must be made. If you cannot or do not wish to perform the functions listed please notify a flight attendant at this time. In an emergency, emergency track lighting will direct you to these exits. The White lights on the floor lead to Red lights, which lead to the emergency exits. In an emergency slides will activate at these exits, slide down the slide and get away from the aircraft as quickly as possible. In a ditching these slides double as life rafts. The cushions on your seat may also be used for a floatation device. A life jacket is located under every seat. Place the life jacket over your head. Secure the belt around your waist and fasten the hooks to the ring in the front. To tighten the life jackets pull on the loose end of the strap. To inflate the life jacket ONLY after leaving the aircraft, pull on the two red toggles. You can manually inflate your life jacket by blowing into the tubes. Your life jacket is equipped with a whistle and light to attract attention. For your convenience this aircraft is pressurized at a comfortable level, should loss of cabin pressure occur, oxygen masks would automatically drop from the ceiling panels above your head. Pull a mask towards you, and place the mask over your mouth and nose and breathe normally. Place the mask on yourself before assisting others. Thank you.”  Said the flight attendant as the flight crew did an all door in flight and crosscheck. “Now that we are cleared for takeoff, please fasten your seatbelt if you haven’t already; secure your table, and your seat back to their full and upright position. At this time we also ask that all electronic devices be turned off. We thank you for your attention and cooperation and we wish you a pleasant flight.”