The engine stopped suddenly and made clanging noises. The flock of birds that had flown into it were being spewed out as feathers and flesh as the engine came to a halt. The passengers on that side of the plane, who had seen what had happened, looked at each other in silent disbelief. Seconds later all the passengers knew and panic spread through the plane like wildfire.

The airhostess that had put them through their safety procedures was on the phone to the Captain. She hung up, her face solemn and pale. “Please all remain seated with your seatbelts fastened. We have lost an engine but the other one is working and we will be returning to the airport shortly. “She spoke in a scripted fashion.

Jack was on this easy jet domestic flight because he missed his international one to Canada where he had been going to visit his sister. He booked a first class seat and had been looking forward to the trip. A fatal accident involving several vehicles happened on the motorway as he was on his way to check in. For three and a half hours they had been stuck, jammed in, unable to turn round or go forward. Now his only alternative was to take a domestic flight to a different airport and get a flight from there or else he would have to wait twenty four hours for a seat. He booked it on his apple iphone and now couldn’t believe that he was going to miss it as well.

He sat at a window seat on this plane as a small compensation for missing out on his first class travel. He stowed his hand luggage in the compartment above and settled into his seat tucking his motoring magazine into the pocket in front of him. A lady of mixed race, struggling with a young boy and hand luggage shuffled in beside him. The boy was wriggling and slipping from her grip so Jack put his hand out protectively to stop him from falling onto the floor. Luggage stowed, the lady sat beside Jack. She was beautiful. Her dark skin glowed and looked as smooth as silk. Jack was tempted to feel her cheek, it looked so soft. Her eyes were almost ebony, they were such dark brown and it was difficult to see where the pupils started. Her long hair fell around shoulders of her bright red shirt framing her face in the purest black, Jack had ever seen. Her full lips had bright red lipstick, but it didn’t look cheap, it suited her face perfectly and accentuated her lovely white teeth shown by her wide friendly smile. Her scent was of a sweet musk, mixed with black cherry which must have been from her moisturiser. She had the appearance of a lady who took care of herself.

The little lad was three or four years old. He was darker than his mother but had the same huge dark eyes. He was a skinny little lad and his hair was black and frizzy and Jack thought how he would probably hate it when he becomes a teenager but on the other hand girls would be swooning at his feet when they looked into those dark pools of eyes. He was dressed in denim jeans and a green tee shirt and clung to a small teddy bear that reminded Jack of the bear, Harold, he had at that age. He hadn’t thought about Harold in years.

Seeing the bear triggered of memories of his childhood, growing up in a little country village with his older sister, Barbara and younger brother Ned. Apart from the usual ups and downs they had a wonderful childhood. They had tactile loving parents, their mother stayed at home to look after them and his father owned a shop in the village. Much of their childhood was centred on helping their father in the shop which they loved. It was good training in business and how to treat people with kindness and respect. Ned, was a sickly child and Jack always took his role of a big brother seriously and compassionately. As a result he had grown into a kind and gentle man, who got an enjoyment and satisfaction from helping others.

His thoughts were interrupted by the small boy beside him sobbing. The lad plopped onto the middle seat, sitting with his bottom lip trembling and large tears falling onto his little cheeks.

“He wanted to sit by the window” his mother said apologetically.

“No problem, let’s swap seats,” said Jack.” I remember my first time in a window seat and how excited I was.”

“That is so kind of you, thank you. I am Rose and this little monster is Marvin.” She said shaking his hand.

The air hostess went through the safety check as they were taxiing along but Jack and Rose didn’t pay much attention. They had seen it all before. Jack was reading his motoring magazine and looking up at the air hostess and nodding as if he was listening. Rose was keeping Marvin busy with a Rubik’s cube type puzzle.

The seat belt sign had gone off and Marvin was now sitting on his mother’s knee in the window seat so he could see out. He never stopped talking and asking questions.

“Jack, have you flown before? Where do you live? Do you have any kids? Are you married, my Mummy isn’t. Do you like her?” On and on but not giving Jack any time to answer.

Rose laughed and her eyes twinkled when she did. “I’m so sorry, Jack, he never stops. He is curious about everything. He didn’t say a word for the first two and a half years of his life and now he makes up for it.”

“He’s fine. He helps pass the time. Flights can be so boring, can’t they?” he replied.

“ Not with Marvin, he is a good boy, but so lively and a handful to keep up with. I‘m a single mum so it can be difficult but I wouldn’t change anything for the world. He is the reason I get out of bed in the morning. He even wakes up with a smile on his face and makes me laugh everyday. We are on our way back home from a week’s holiday. I saved for it for over a year and it was the first time Marvin had been to the seaside. He was so excited. Don’t you hate that “end of holiday” feeling?” The words tumbled out making Jack think Rose must miss adult company to talk to.

“Yes, I used to hate the day before school started after the summer holidays. It is the feeling you get when Christmas Day is over.” He laughed.

“Yes exactly. Well that’s the feeling I have now but I’m also happy to get back to our own home. There is nothing like your own bed.” Her smiled and laugh lines spread to her eyes.

Jack instinctively knew she was the kind of woman whose company he would enjoy. He felt he would really like to spend time getting to know her and it was in his mind to exchange phone numbers when they landed and stay in touch. Fate was a strange thing.

He could see a kindness in her face that reminded him of his mother. Her face lit up when she looked at Marvin, just as his mother had done making her children feel like the most important people in the world.

On and on Rose and Jack chatted and then suddenly the engine died.

Marvin was struck dumb and his little hand reached out and took Jack’s. Jack felt a wave of paternal protectiveness and assured his everything would be ok. He knew they could land with one engine but it would be tricky. The silence on board was like the passengers willing the pilot to save them.

Without warning the other engine shuddered to a stop. This was serious now. Jack looked at Rose; she had her rosary out and was praying. “God. Please protect us and don’t let anything happen to my boy. He has a life to live. If you take me, so be it, but spare him.” She was sobbing.

Marvin’s grip tightened on Jack’s hand and his other arm was round his mother’s neck. Rose undid her seatbelt and stretched it until it went round Marvin as well.

Everything seemed to happen at once. The oxygen masks fell; the aircraft lost balance and was swaying like a cork in water. Luggage, bags, books and magazines were falling all over. The lights went out and the air was filled with heart wrenching wails, screams and sobbing. and the droning sound of the chanting of prayers. Those without seatbelts were thrown around the cabin.

“This is your Captain. Brace, brace, and good luck to us all.”

Jack assumed the brace position lowering his head to his knees and putting his hands over his head. He peered out of the side of his eye to check on Marvin and Rose. Rose was leaning forward with her hands protecting Marvin’s head and he could see the young lad’s body shuddering with terrifying sobs. Rose was whispering quietly to him trying to comfort him. Her eyes met his fleetingly with a pleading look and sad look that tore at his heart.

The next four and a half minutes seemed like a lifetime. There was mostly silence with a few muffled sobs. People were praying or having their last thoughts of what they could have done, should have done or would have done if they were spared and how they would be model citizens if God would just spare them.

Jack put a hand in his pocket and lifted out his iphone. He expertly tapped a brief “plane crash love u goodbye,” message and sent it to multi friends and family. He felt better doing it even if they never got it. He then dropped his phone and put his hands over his heads again.

Just in time. There was a loud whooshing sound, metal breaking into shards, debris flying everywhere and an almighty impact with an enormous flash of light as the plane burst into flames.

Jack opened his eyes; he was in a huge amount of pain. He had a bone in his arm protruding from the skin and he was sure his shoulder and ankle were broken. He looked around; he was in a wooded area, dull light flickering through the trees. Brown damp leaves under him giving off a pungent mouldy smell. He sat for a while, his back against a tree thinking how lucky he was to be alive. Or was he alive? He wasn’t sure of anything right now.

Slowly and painfully Jack stood up, steadied himself and attempted to walk. He was in immense pain and his ankle gave way. As he fell he turned himself to his right side so he would not land on his injuries. He lay a moment, running his hand through his hair which was a nervous habit he had acquired as a boy. His hand felt moist and his hand was covered in blood. Strangely his head injury didn’t hurt. Looking around, he saw a branch on the ground and pulled himself to it using his elbow and knee to move forward. It took him several minutes to strip the branch and pull himself and the branch back to the tree. He got himself to a standing position. Using the branch as a support he slowly moved forward.

He could hear sirens and a commotion on the far side of the trees and he could see clouds of thick dark smoke filling the air. Above him, he could hear helicopters but he dared not look up in case he lost his balance once more. He hopped along clinging on to the branch to stay upright. He had to stop and lean against every tree. His head was spinning now and he was getting dizzy. The pain was almost making him pass out but it was with sheer determination that he struggled on. He tried a few times to call for help but his cries went unheard above the din coming from the crash site.

When, finally, he hobbled out of the trees the sight before him was worse that he could have ever imagined.

For as far as he could see there were pieces of twisted metal, black smoke, debris, clothing and dead bodies. Bloodied grass and lumps of flesh and limbs were strewn around. The terrible stench of blood, fuel, and burnt flesh mixed with the smoke made his eyes water and seared his nostrils, causing him to wretch.

There were rescue workers turning over pieces of metal, looking for body parts, ambulances and police vehicles and even fire brigades had managed to drive into the large field. Then rescuers were running towards him with a stretcher. Strong arms took over as he collapsed.
“Right sir, we are getting you straight to the hospital,” a paramedic said.

Before they moved him they put a plastic collar round his neck, a drip in his arm and did a brief examination of his injuries. As he was being wheeled away he looked back at the scene as if to imprint it on his mind forever. As they passed a row of twisted and mutilated bodies, he caught a glimpse of bright red. He saw enough to know it was Rose.

The next day, Jack was recovering from his operations and was told that he was one of only two survivors. The doctors thought it would be a good idea for them to meet each other, mentally it would give them both support. As Jack couldn’t be moved from his bed, the other patient was wheeled in to his room in a wheelchair. It was Marvin.

When he saw Jack a huge smile spread across his face, he had escaped major injuries and was clinging to his teddy bear.

Jack had plenty of time to think while he was in hospital recovering. Every time he closed his eyes he could see Rose’s body. He was sad that the future that could have been theirs had been stolen from them. It may not have worked but he would have liked to try.

Marvin came to visit every day and they played games and chatted and watched television. He was in foster care but he never complained and always tried to have a smile on his face although he was in shock. He was having counselling to get him through the horrible memories he had just lived through. They had become very close and Jack knew that he didn’t want to lose touch with Marvin. Now he was in his late twenties and knew he could give Marvin a good, stable life and be a positive role model. There would be problems but he felt they could get through them together. They had developed a trust and a bond and there was a pain in Jack’s heart at the thought of letting Marvin go to be reared by strangers after all he had been through.

Jack remembered Rose’s prayer, she had not been spared but Marvin had. He knew the least he could do for her was to make sure her son was brought up as she would have liked. Although their lives had touched for a very short while they had made a connection. He believed everything happened for a reason and there had to be a reason why he was on that flight, in that seat, on that day and he knew what it was. Marvin’s face spoke a thousand words when Jack told him he would like to adopt him as his son. His face broke into that smile that reminded his so much of Rose. The feeling of Marvin’s arms hugging him brightened Jack’s heart.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 23.02.2013

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