Landing
He hadn’t expected they’d get shot at for trying to land at the airport.
It’s not the virus, just cancer; her dying wish is to spend her last days at the cottage.
He flew low along the deserted shoreline, circled back into the wind. Resisting the compulsion to shield her face, he kept his hands clenched on the yoke, Nose up, come on, there it is, yeah!
Here we are, Dear, let’s just catch our breath before getting you settled in the cottage. I’ll unload the plane before the tide comes in, then together we shall enjoy the sunset, you and I.
**** *** ****
Landing
Wondering what he would do now, he guided the Cessna in wide lazy circles, climbing higher and higher over the airport below, found her hand when she mumbled groggily, told her gently, Almost, Dear, we’re almost there.
Though he’d anticipated some trouble on the ground he had expected to at least be allowed to land, where he’d prevail upon their mercy. We’ve been quarantining, we don’t have that dreaded virus, he’d imagined himself explaining, it’s just cancer and her dying wish is to spend her last days at the cottage.
But the tower voice, terse and tense, had informed him that if he continued his approach he would be shot out of the sky, told him You’re not landing here, just go back where you came from.
Flying away from the airport, he descended, then flew low along the deserted shoreline, turned the plane one more time, into the wind that bent the dune grass, slowed the plane as much as he could, Nose up, nose up, come on, praying the wheels didn’t dig in or a wing drop and catapult them and now the prop flicked slowly, slowly round like the last bit of film off the reel and he flew that plane, hovered it, hands gripping the yoke when what he really wanted to do was shield her face and protect her, but he held on, Here we go, come on, there it is, yeah!
You slept through the landing, Dear, a couple of bumps, but not bad, I’ll just catch my breath before I carry you to the cottage and get you settled, unload the plane before the tide comes in; then we shall enjoy the sunset.
**** *** ****
The first is 99 words and six sentences, the second six sentences and 280 words. The 99 word challenge from Carrot Ranch was to include “shield your face” and the Six Sentence Story prompt from Denise at GirlieOnThe Edge is “circle”.
Oh how I love your story. He was going to make sure she got her final wish, no matter what. I wonder how many real people have been turned away from vitally important happenings over these weeks 😦
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Yes, I wonder. I’m glad you liked this story. I appreciate your coming by for a read.
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My pleasure, D!
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It is amazing how quickly people lose their veneer of kindness and empathy when the chips are down, Miss D. Well done.
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This is fiction, I certainly hope the part about the airport is extreme and never comes to pass.
Thank you Robbie, I appreciate your comments.
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Both versions are filled with emotion. How different life (and death) is from what we expected it to be in these changing times. Well done.
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Thanks, Norah. I’m glad he pulled off that beach landing so her desire to die on her terms could be met.
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Yes. It would be nice to go how we plan. A little help could be a good thing. He is so thoughtful and loving. Couldn’t ask more than that.
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Rules have no compassion. (K)
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Then it’s up to people.
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Who too often can’t get past the rules…
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A beautiful example of the power of love. Nicely done 🙂
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Yeah, he loves her more than his Cessna ’cause that’s not leaving the beach.
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Excellent, both of them. And so very sad.
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Thank you. Yeah.
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Very…empowering* story(s)
Liked your Six and (your 99)… funny, similar (but different) direction over at my own Six.
* for the record, I don’t believe in empowering, at least in the context of one person providing power to another person, in the personal power sense, of course. Not the “Here’s 2 six volt batteries.”
But I liked the word better than ‘inspiring’ which also conveys a certain, ‘you should be stronger, let me make you stronger’ vibe.
Probably meant evocative? of something… I’d better get back up to the Comment, they’ll be wondering where we are.
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Oops, my reply to you ended up below Pat…
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Loved your double SSS. Pulls at the heart strings. I imagine there are many who would like to remove their loved ones from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. knowing they are unable to visit them in the last days of their lives and go with them into the sunset.
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It’s got to be so hard on families.
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I was just going for the Six, but saw I could use the shield prompt in that too, so did, then challenged myself to get the Six story into 99 words. I don’t know why. But it is interesting to see what happens and I do know the final Six is better for the exercise. I think I prefer the Six version better for the details but would prefer it more if it wasn’t limited to Six sentences, not for more words, but smoother syntax. But I followed the rules, Man.
Thanks.
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You have said a great deal with so few words. Really nice six
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Thank you.
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It’s TUFF to fit that into six sentences. 🙂 Sweet story, too.
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Thank you. It was TUFF, but it keeps me off the streets.
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Bravo. Enjoyed both versions. Sad, but also spirited – the lengths you can go to in trying to make something better even if for only a short time.
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Thank you.
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Beautifully written D! I only hope when it’s my time to go my husband will be just as thoughtful. BTW Yes I’m going first … lol
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Someone’s got to go first, just don’t go anytime soon.
Be well. And thank you.
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Oh my! Excellent way to engage from the get go!
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Thank you.
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Love. And I really like when you have multiple takes on these – excellent.
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It can be an interesting exercise, to bend an idea into two prompts. Thank you for your kind comments.
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