Downfall/Board the plane 4

From Create Your Own Story

Current revision as of 23:18, 23 March 2015

Your flight was booked last minute; you don't have seat in the same row. There are two adjacent seats in the last row and two single seats, both in the middle department. The last row is next to the kitchen compartment, which grants you a bit of privacy since there is no middle row. It is almost impossible to see the monitors where the in-flight films are going to be shown.

Flights always bore you to death. You chose one of the single seats from where you have a good view at the screen, and although airline movies aren't the most exciting films there are, they help you survive the trip.

The real nightmare begins after the landing. It happens what just had to happen - some of your luggage isn't showing on the carousel. Suitcase after suitcase, bag after bag, pieces of luggage are coming out and are taken by other passengers. Will's bag emerges as one of the first, and Kirsten's suitcase is literally the last piece that emerges from behind the separator, but that's it. Your bag and your mum's suitcase are missing. You wait another five minutes to see if stragglers are turning up, but nothing appears on the carousel.

Julianne calls the airline to complain. Apparently, resolving the situation via the phone is inefficient. Julianne tells you to check out and get some seats in the hall while she goes to the counter of the airline to lend weight to her complaint. What a great start to your vacation.

After half an hour, Julianne returns. Her face is a storm cloud; she must have gone ballistic to get the airline people to do their job. As it is, the airline is now looking for your luggage. "No need for you to stay here," Julianne says. "Why don't you head to the hotel and check in, so they won't give our rooms away."

You volunteer to wait here with Julianne until the luggage situation is solved. If the luggage is found, your mother wouldn't have to carry everything by herself.

When Kirsten and Will are on their way to the hotel, the waiting begins. You obtain some sandwiches and a water bottle from a food stand and something to read from a kiosk. One hour passes; then two. Julianne calls the counter to hear if there are any news; there aren't. Another half hour later, Julianne passes you her cell. She needs to pee; should the airline call her in the meantime, you are to take the call. As if she had known, her cells rings. It is only Kirsten, though, inquiring when you might arrive at the hotel. You return the cell to Julianne when she comes back from the lavatory.

Another two hours and as many inquiries later, the airline calls you to come to their counter. Your luggage has been found. Unfortunately, it has been found at another airport. Nobody is able to explain why, but two out of four pieces of luggage you checked went in another direction. It's no use yelling at the attendants; as much as your mother does, it doesn't make your bags appear. The service people assure you the luggage will arrive next midmorning. As consolation, you are offered two coupons for a wellness treatment at a well-known spa. Julianne looks like she wants to tear the coupons into a thousand pieces, but you persuade her to accept them. Even though it is hardly a compensation for the additional trouble, it is at least something.

At this hour, the shuttle serves only every half hour, and the bus has just passed through. A large crowd assembles during the waiting time. When the next shuttle arrives, you manage to secure a two-seater in the back. Exhausted from the day's stress, Julianne leans against you, her eyes closed. You let her rest until you reach your hotel.

• Check into the hotel