Never mind, he like all those who flew regularly was used
to that.
He looked around the departure lounge. A priest raised
a silent prayer, and a mother of two small children, muttered
her prayer aloud.
Business men around the room, like a Mexican wave, spoke
into their mobiles, re-arranging their schedules.
As time moved on, people began to travel the road from
resignment to resentment, some got up to demand an explanation
whilst others moaned loudly into their phones or to those
around them.
He first spotted her sat in a corner, a large man to her
left appeared to be shouting at no-one, his 'hands free'
kit lost in the folds of his jacket. It seemed as if she
was on her own, in a cocoon of uncertainty, looking so lost,
so quiet, so fragile.
After 4 hours laptops had lost power, phones would soon
join this slow death of the mobile office, mourned loudly
by increasingly angry, frustrated business travellers, ranting
the mantra of 'Time is Money'. The airline simply repeated
their announcements.
'Flight FY432 to New York is delayed pending clarification
of a possible terrorist alert, next information in 30 minutes'.
He moved towards her, smiling. 'Such a pain' he said as
he sat down beside her, 'I'm supposed to be doing a job
in New York'. She was to visit her brother in New York.
By tea time, the business travellers had on the whole simply
given up and gone home. A harassed airline employee was
trying to pacify the two small children while the mother
went for a calming walk. They were flying out to join her
husband who had gone on ahead their new home.
The priest looked as if his faith had been lost. How many
unanswered prayers can one man take?
That evening after 9 hours the flight was finally cancelled.
As moans subsided the airline representative advised that
those who wanted to try again tomorrow would be accommodated
in a local hotel.
'What shall I do?' she asked him. 'Come on, let's make
it an adventure, Good hotel, good food and someone else's
money' he reasoned. 'What about your work?' she asked, and
he explained it could wait.
After helping her to her room with her luggage, he went
to his own room and rang his employer. They agreed too much
planning had gone on to cancel his trip.
He arranged to meet her in the restaurant. As he was travelling
business class the airline were being very generous. She
looked lovely by candlelight, more perfect, like a china
doll, something to hold and admire. Afterwards they retired
to the bar.
He smiled to himself, and she asked why. 'I'm a busy person',
he explained, 'I never get the chance to socialise yet alone
meet a beautiful girl like you'. She looked away, almost
as quickly as the colour grew in her cheeks, but he reached
out and touched her face gently, turning her head back towards
him where he gently kissed her on the forehead.
Later he walked her back to her room and arranged to meet
her for breakfast.
The morning sun streamed in through the large windows,
lighting up her face. Her spirit too was lifted as they
resolved to enjoy this day, whatever.
Only 80 of the original 400 passengers were there only
to be told the flight would not leave before lunchtime.
They sat down and for the next few hours were oblivious
to the ranting and moaning around them as they continued
to tell each other about themselves.
Another 4 hour delay was announced and the airline arranged
a coach to take them into the local town. They watched the
priest lead the young mother into a cinema with the promise
of two hours peace, and popcorn for the children.
Walking around the shops, aware only of each other, he
took her hand and they looked every inch the perfect couple.
She a young graduate, and he, although only a few years
older, the more mature, protective, man of the world. They
went into a small tea shop and as he held he hand ever more
tightly he asked if she believed in fate, in love at first
sight.
The trip away from the airport had raised the mood. Most
people were upbeat and someone even dared to voice an opinion
that they would rather be delayed than ignore a terrorist
alert. Then the airline shattered the optimism with a simple
statement announcing the threat continued.
There was another problem, now 2 flights had been cancelled
and tomorrows could not take them all. The airline offered
a cash incentive for people to wait 2 days.
'Let's take it' he said quickly, she was not so sure but
soon agreed. That evening he told her he loved her.
The next day they went back to the town and as they walked
past an antique shop; he got down on one knee and asked
her to marry him. She was blown away, but again soon persuaded
that if fate was on their side it was meant to be. She was
so happy, this was a fairy tale, someone with a good job,
money, looks, everything, loved her, a timid, country mouse
who even after 4 years at university still didn't know what
she wanted and even if she did, would never have the nerve
to go and get it. The Victorian ring he spent the airlines
money on was just perfect.
That night she stayed in his room and sealed their engagement.
At check in the next day, she could not have been happier,
she went off through the economy gate safe in the knowledge
that she would meet up with him again on the plane.
But he never got on the plane, how could he do this to
the girl he loved?
How couldn't go ahead and blow up the plane. Perhaps the
priest's prayers were answered after all.
