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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: BUG (04/06/17)
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the captain has switched on the seatbelt sign as we are encountering some turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your safety belts.”

The voice of the flight attendant was calm and reassuring, but I felt anything but calm and reassured. It was now thirty minutes since we had taken off from Kingston airport and the going had become increasingly rough since take-off. The overhead containers were rattling like crazy. Several had come open. Not one person was out of his seat. I hadn’t wanted to get on this plane, but I had no choice. I had needed to get away for a well-earned break from teaching, but I now had to get back to Grand Cayman for the start of the new term in early January. It was almost midnight on New Year’s Eve, 1999, the end of the millennium, and I was, of all places, aboard an aeroplane. I hated flying at the best of times, but this was the worst of times to be in the air. I had been teaching all about the expected Y2K bug the previous term.

Suddenly, the plane started to nosedive and many passengers started screaming.

“Brace, brace!”

The tone was now urgent, far from calm and reassuring.

The plane continued to fall from the sky ………

I jolted awake, heart pounding. Whatever was happening? I looked around me. Yes, I was on a plane. I consulted my watch. Yes, it was almost 1 am on 1 January 2000. No, the plane wasn’t about to crash. We were cruising smoothly. Several passengers were walking and stretching in the aisles, chatting quietly.

Ping! The seatbelt sign came on softly.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the captain has just switched on the seatbelt sign. We have started our descent and will shortly be arriving in Grand Cayman. Please return to your seats, ensure that your seatbelts are fastened, your tray tables are stowed and that your armrests are down.”

I wept with relief.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
LaVonne Wood
04/16/17
It seems we often dream about things that are bothering us, like your fear of flying. You did a good job letting us believe your fears were real. Blessings, LaVonne
Dave Walker 
04/17/17
Yes, I remember the hype around Y2K. It's amazing what fear can do to one's psyche. An interesting take on the topic.
Larry Whittington
04/19/17
Dreams can be unsettling.

Nicely written.
Phillip Cimei
04/19/17
I enjoyed your short take on panic. I think those that don't pray very often find the time when they fly.

You did a good job of instilling the fear of what could happen up in the sky.

I think you could have used the extra word count you had left to enhance the topic in a greater way. Tell about what the bug of the new century could have done to the plane.

Enjoyed it. God bless.
Bonnie Bowden 
04/26/17
Congratulations on your 2nd place finish in the Intermediate category, Simon.

I felt like I was in the seat beside you and the fear was palitible.

You were so close to winning this week. It is not a matter of if you will move up but when.
Bonnie Bowden 
04/27/17
I meant palatable.