Making It (NOT UPDATING )

The One Where I Leave

I had made up my mind airports were not something I liked. In fact I hated them. Actually correction, I hated the fact that they were ridiculously hard to navigate. I had been stood in the middle of the open space for 10 minutes and still had no idea where I was supposed to find the right gate. The numbers on the notice board flipped again and this time I found the right flight number. Flight B6237 Gate 5, Boarding.

I glanced around quickly trying to find the directons to gate 5. out of the corner of my eye I notcied a sign with the a big yellow arrow and decide that the only thing I could do was follow the sign and hope for the best.  I had just figured out where I was heading when -

"This is the final call for flight B6237 to Sydney, may all passengers make their way to gate 5."

I rushed towards the gate, cursing mum for starting to cry when she dropped me off at the airport. She didn't want me to leave, said I was rushing into it too quickly. I wasn't of course, I don't think 8 years of planning is quickly but my mother was a worrier and it took me twice as long to leave the parking lot to the airport as it would have done If I had just said goodbye at the house. And if i had just said goodbye at the house I would have had a out more time to work out where I was going.

I got to the gate just in time. The attendant smiled sweetly, showing of her brilliantly white smile that unfortunately did not reach her eyes. "You almost didn't make it," she said taking my boarding pass from me and directing me down the little tunnel to the plane.

"Wouldn't that have been a shame?" I grimaced, and pushed past her down to the walkway to the plane. My seat was not to haard to find - it only being a small plane, and after a few attempts (and some help from the hostess) I managed to get my bag into an overhead slot and collapsed in my seat. Just in time as the overhead crackled and a voice came through. "Good morning this is your captain speaking, umm, thank you for joining us on our journey to Sydney, please sit back, enjoy your flight and we will try and get you to your destination in one piece."

The woman in the seat next to me chuckled. "He's my son you know," She said with a proud grin on her face, "The captain, it's his first flight today without supervision."

I smiled, "Well I hope he gets us there safely." I replied.

"I'm Jenny," said the woman sticking her hand out for me to shake. Normally I was a bit nervous talking to complete strangers on public transport but Jenny looked like she was the sort of woman to always have cakes in her house and make roast dinner every sunday.

"Tessa" I said, taking her hand, "You travelling for business or pleasure?"

"Oh pleasure" she said with a wide smile, "I'm going for my niece's birthday, she'll be 22 next week."

"Really?" I asked, "She's a year younger than me, I just celebrated my 23rd before flying out."

"Oh wow, thats great!" Jenny grinned, "Maybe I could get her to show you around? Where are you staying in Sydney?"

"Bondi hopefully, just have to hope the last few details for my apartment went through,"

"Haha it's fate!" Jenny laughed, "My niece is at Bondi, found herself a nice fireman or something down there, I'll definitely get her to show you round."

"Thank you" I replied expecting a loud gush of 'don't you worry's to come from Jenny, but when I looked back to her she was flat out asleep with her mouth hanging open.

I smiled and settled down to try and catch some shut eye before the flight landed and I started my new life at Bondi.

I've never really left Brisbane before this so I've never been on a plane before and I think to be fair I'm glad about that. I hated it, I was floating in a giant tin can thousands of feet off the ground. I shifted nervously which woke Jenny up and she looked at me concerned. "Are you alright pet?"

I smiled, "First time flying, I'm a bit nervous."

Jenny nodded understandingly, "Tell me about yourself," she suggested, "It may take your mind off the flying thing."

I thought for a second, "I'm pretty normal I guess, grew up on the Gold coast, spent most of my time on the beach learning how to swim and surf. Nothing really exciting happens to me, had my fair share of bad break ups but none I haven't been able to get over. Oh and I was a lifeguard which I suppose is the only excitement I get in my life." I stopped, "I think thats about it no dramatic and depressing background."

"What about Bondi?, why are you going to Bondi?"

I smiled and Jenny smiled back at me, her face interested. "Isn't that what everyone wants to do?"  I laughed, "Move to Bondi? I mean sun, people, excitement oh and not forgetting one of the best lifeguarding teams in the world! That's why I'm going, I'm going to try out for the team." I grinned and zoned out, into my own little world. I could see the waves crashing onto the beach filled with people. Me patrolling the sands rescue board in hand, or patrolling the sea on the jet ski. Me saving a little girl's life and seeing the sheer happiness of her family as they realise I saved her life. Me sat in the tower with the other lifeguards laughing at pranks and people on the beach.

That was my dream and now it was one step closer to a reality. I was on my way to Bondi.

Suddenly a crackling sound snapped me out of my daydream. "Hello this is your captain speaking" the voice said, "the fasten seatbelt sign is about to light up, please put your seats forward into sitting position and trays upright. We will then begin our descent into Sydney."

I grinned and wiggled nervously. This was it.