Picture a fifteen-year-old girl wearing her "arrival t-shirt" of the brightest lime green sitting in an airport with her mom, scared to death. Scared of flying in an airplane. Not just because the last time she flew she was four, but also because she will be flying alone. Alone. To Miami. Even the pink bow she tied in her hair couldn't cheer her up. She was scared. Any on-looker could tell, and in fact a woman heading to Cuba for a family funeral made a remark to her, "Is this your first time flying alone, sweetie?"
"Yes ma'am." The trembling girl answered with a nod of her head and a shaky smile. The Cuban woman replied that she would help her find her way to baggage claim when she got to Miami. Relief spread across the girl's face. But was quickly replaced with the same fear as before. It didn't help the fact that she still would have to fly to Miami by herself. On an airplane. And she knew not a soul.
And then she saw them. The two girls wearing the same lime green "Never The Same Missions" arrival t-shirts that all going on this trip were required to wear. She didn't know them. But for some reason it was almost like they were friends. Their faces lit up as well when they saw her. She rose and smoothed her shirt and walked over towards the girls.
The girls she learned were sisters. Olivia and Meredith Moran. When the flight attendants made the announcement that their class was to begin boarding, they all looked towards their parents.
The girl with the pink bow in her curly hair looked toward her mom, all she could think was stay strong for me, don't cry, because I'm scared and you are the strongest person I know. But what she said was, "Let's get in line." The girl got in line and reached the front. Her ticket was scanned. Her carry-on sized. Then she turned around for a last glimpse of her mama. Her mother smiled, blew her a kiss, yelled, "I love you." And the girl turned away. To her flight. Her window seat. Alone To Miami. The girl cried. But not enough for people to pity her. Because that would surely make it worse. But enough to make herself feel better. For crying released something only someone crying can place.
She turned on her Ipod and tried to focus on the twang of Easton Corbin, but the plane and its takeoff was beckoning all her attention towards itself. She finally pressed pause. Popped some gum in her mouth and chewed like her ears depended on it. Once in the air, the terrible feeling that the bottom of her chair was going to fall out was all but ripping her heart out. She wanted to stand up, but didn't quite realize how that would help any.
The pilot never let them take off their seat belts because the flight was so bumpy. The business man next to her slept through most of the bumbs and jars. When a flight attendant awakened him to ask whether he wanted cookies or or peanuts, he looked at the frightened girl drinking her Coca-Cola and remarked, "Don't worry, this isn't anything to be afraid of."
"Thank-you." was the reply he got from the girl in neon. She then looked out the window.
After what seemed like forever. Miami was in sight. And the plane from North Carolina landed. Carrying a fifteen year old girl, scared, but ready to put her heart out there for God.
She turned on her Ipod and tried to focus on the twang of Easton Corbin, but the plane and its takeoff was beckoning all her attention towards itself. She finally pressed pause. Popped some gum in her mouth and chewed like her ears depended on it. Once in the air, the terrible feeling that the bottom of her chair was going to fall out was all but ripping her heart out. She wanted to stand up, but didn't quite realize how that would help any.
The pilot never let them take off their seat belts because the flight was so bumpy. The business man next to her slept through most of the bumbs and jars. When a flight attendant awakened him to ask whether he wanted cookies or or peanuts, he looked at the frightened girl drinking her Coca-Cola and remarked, "Don't worry, this isn't anything to be afraid of."
"Thank-you." was the reply he got from the girl in neon. She then looked out the window.
After what seemed like forever. Miami was in sight. And the plane from North Carolina landed. Carrying a fifteen year old girl, scared, but ready to put her heart out there for God.
No comments:
Post a Comment