For my 4th birthday, we embarked on a night journey from Tenerife in the Canary Islands to London Gatwick airport. The flight was set to arrive just as the day was breaking. Regrettably, I experienced disappointment as my birthday had been consumed by packing and commencing our trip back home post-Christmas. Observing my surroundings, I saw exhausted families and other individuals who had similarly relished their Christmas vacation and were eager to return home. My travel companions were my mother and nearly 3-year-old brother.
My only Christmas spent away from home was my first. Despite its immense enjoyment, we still favored the conventional Christmas at our residence where we had the chance to unwrap gifts by the tree and have fun with our newly received toys. Instead of engaging in board games as is customary in England
...during Christmas, we opted for swimming and replaced pudding consumption with ice cream; nonetheless, it turned out to be a fantastic vacation. The flight time was just shy of midnight and although most passengers were dozing off, I resolved to remain awake for the remainder of my birthday.
Perched on my chair, I was transfixed by the diminutive television screen fastened to the backrest of the seat before me. It played my preferred animation show, but my spirits were dampened owing to a less than thrilling birthday celebration. My mother had even dozed off, cradling my sibling in her embrace. Amidst snoozing co-passengers, the flight attendant glided by and paused beside me offering beverages from her cart in hushed tones - "Care for something to drink?" She stood tall and slender with flaming red hair neatly bundled into a bun,
dressed elegantly in her vivid sky-blue uniform. Her attire was complemented perfectly by matching shiny heels and delicate marine blue adornments like a bracelet and earrings. "May I have some lemonade?", I asked courteously while stretching my neck to meet her towering stature.
My passion for the Spice Girls was recognized by the hostess as she served me a glass of lemonade. I excitedly shared that my mother had gifted me a fresh-off-the-shelf Spice Girls t-shirt on my birthday earlier in the day. As most children do, I easily developed strong attachments and enthusiasm towards things I loved. My fixation was indeed the Spice Girls, so naturally when mom presented me with the t-shirt, my joy knew no bounds. Hastily, I donned it along with black leggings.
You're incredibly fortunate! Other hostesses might feel envious of you, she informed me. I chuckled, feeling a sense of relief to finally engage in a chat rather than hearing their loud snores while they were deep in slumber. "What do you say to accompanying me on a tour around the other hostesses and pilots?" she suggested, offering her hand to me, all set for thrilling airborne adventures. "Hooray!" I shouted out, neglecting the fact that others were attempting to rest. I uttered the phrase that every young girl resorts to when they receive exactly what they desire or an amazing surprise.
Taking her hand, I led her to the front of the plane. The narrow aisle seemed never-ending as I trudged forward, feeling like I had passed countless people already. By the time we reached the front, walking down the shaky aisle had made me dizzy and unsteady on my feet.
However, all the trouble was worthwhile because what I was about to witness would give me something to boast about when I returned to school after the holidays. Leaning against a cabin door, I observed the other hostesses sitting on their fold-out chairs, barely able to stay awake with nothing to support them.
Just a few yards distant, I closely watched the sliding door that divided the pilot's area of the plane. The chatter over their radios reached my ears and stirred up fantasies of piloting an airplane myself. Much like any child who envisions their future when they come across something appealing, I was momentarily lost in a daydream. Yet, my reverie was suddenly cut short as the door started to slide open. Unexpectedly, a woman's head appeared from behind it. She seemed young but not quite as youthful as some of the cabin crew, her hair short, golden and flawlessly straightened.
She resembled a model from a L'Oreal hair advertisement, her eyes and lips flawlessly adorned. Her smile emerged as she quietly beckoned me to come in, ensuring not to disturb anybody. I moved closer with hushed steps. Noticing another individual who appeared to be the chief pilot caught my attention. He looked significantly older than the other crew members, his short grey hair and noticeably aged features were evident. Shattering the quietness, the woman questioned, "What's your name?" To which I responded in a bashful and naive tone, "Demi." She commented appreciatively, "Oh lovely! Just like Demi Moore?"
This was the dreaded question that everyone asked when they heard my name. In a few years time it became an automatic answer "Yes actually."
We spent the
next hour playing eye spy and cats cradle. Which after is when I realised my birthday had passed.
The main pilot didn't talk much because he had to concentrate on flying. I daren't distract him as I was scared I might cause an accident. But I realised that at the front of the plane, you could feel the shaking and jerking more.
The woman notified me that I only had 10 minutes left before the seatbelt indicator would be illuminated again for descent, implying I needed to depart shortly. Despite this, she took time to explain the airplane's functionality to me. While it was confusing initially, I found it highly engaging and intriguing. The plethora of buttons provided a visual spectacle with everything merging flawlessly. As I headed back towards my seating area, my speed increased significantly compared to earlier, as I hummed a tune by the Spice Girls under my breath. Right on cue, I made it back to my seat and secured my belt just as the sign lit up.
With great enthusiasm, I woke my mother up and narrated the entire episode to her. Admittedly, she didn't appear too intrigued by it. Nevertheless, as a four-year-old girl, I was always aware of how extraordinary the experience had been. The following week when I returned to school, I couldn't wait to tell all my friends about my experiences which filled them with envy. It was an unmatched airplane journey that would forever remain etched in my memory. For some time after that trip, I even considered becoming a pilot because it seemed like such an exciting profession. Now though, this is simply a faint recollection of
how easily awestricken I used to be during early childhood.
