Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: JAM (02/09/17)
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TITLE: THIEF OF TIME | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robert Rutaagi
02/15/17 -
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This would be my longest and most memorable international flight to attend a global conference of professional peers I longed to attend. I prepared myself carefully, avoiding any mistakes that accompany last minute activities. My wife understood my interest and gave me all her technical assistance on those little things I was likely to forget like health certificate, ticket and health tablets.
I landed at Charles De Gualle Airport, in France, at about 9:00am. My connecting flight was that same day, at 4:00pm. Since I was travelling business class, I was checked in a good hotel, had a shower and slept until lunch time. I had a good lunch after which I took a walk around the airport, especially, around the confirmation desks and boarding gates, until about 3:00pm.
I went to my room, picked my hand luggage and went to the check-in area which I had already inspected when I was walking around after my lunch. Quite confidently, I presented my ticket and passport to a gorgeous lady.
‘Monsieur, ou est aller vous?’ she politely inquired as she critically examined my documents.
‘English, please, I don’t speak French,’ I pleaded.
‘I am sorry, what is your destination?’ she replied.
‘Minara International Airport, Morocco,’ I replied.
‘I am sorry sir, but you are in a wrong place. You are to connect from Orly Airport. Unfortunately, the shuttle bus has already left. You can pick a taxi over there’, she advised.
Instantly, my head jammed. As I left the counter, I felt like Moses leaving the presence of Pharaoh, after refusing to release Israelites. I wondered how far this O’what…was? airport was. If it needed a shuttle or taxi, it must be quite far or could it be just a few stations away?
Reaching the taxi area, I picked one and asked the driver to take me to Orly airport. I looked at my watch – 15:40. Panic descended upon me from my cranium to the toes. All my confidence, joy and composure I had marshaled up from the time I kissed farewell to my wife up to this point, melted away. The driver noticed my extreme apprehension.
‘Which flight are you taking?’ he asked gently.
‘Royal Morocco’, I timidly replied.
‘Sorry, it is too late. Orly Airport is far, the traffic jam is at its pick now. You have wasted your money and time. Accommodation in Orly is limited and expensive. You should have stayed in Charles De Gualle area and until tomorrow,’ he advised.
‘Should we go back? This is the last flight to Morocco and I am afraid, you have already missed it’, he concluded with confident finality.
‘Let us continue. I will stay in Orly area’, I told him.
At this point, the devil in me started accusing me of all sorts of sins I had committed since I started planning the journey: craze for travel and conference, laziness, extravagance, pride, foolishness, poor time management…I heard, silently prayed, binding and banishing him into the dry land, bottomless pit and the lake of fire until judgment day…Amen.
We reached Orly airport about 4:30pm. In those days, in 80s, travelers’ cheques were the norm for carrying international currency. I did not have cash to pay the driver! So, I rushed to the bank for over twenty minutes, cashed the tcs, paid the fellow and bid him fair well. He must have thought I was a foolish traveler.
Moving on, as if in auto-pilot mode, I found myself on Royal Morocco counter, frantically presented my documents and waited for what looked like a decade.
‘Sir, you are a lucky man. The plane has just landed, after a long delay. Enjoy your flight,’ she comforted me as she handed back my documents together with my boarding pass.
From that moment on, until I returned home, the devil fled from me and the Holy Spirit completely took over. Peace and tranquility enveloped me. Every thought was good. Whatever I saw radiated God’s glory. Every passenger resembled my home fellowship member. Their voices and plane engine ravings produced melodious music in my ears. I felt no hunger. The flight from Orly Airport to Morocco was superb. The conference, where God’s presence seemed real, was extraordinary. I praised the Lord.
NON-FICTION
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The only other little bit of red ink... You might want to do a little more editing, and re-read your piece before submitting. There were typo's and words in sentences that did not relate. If they were abbreviations, I did not understand them.
Spell check has a tendency to assume you are going to say something you have no intention of saying, and will throw a word in your sentence, that was not mean to be.
I really liked your creative thinking.
Blessings~
I agree with the prior critiques...proofreading & editing will always improve your overall product. Keep writing... I want to hear more from you.
Though not intended to curtail international flights, this piece might stir some readers thoughts leading to this action.
Prayer was needed along with a "Thy will be done" attitude no matter the result.