The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Is this a Dream?
“Daddy?”
The boy is between his father and mother in the plane. His little legs so short that they stick straight out when he is moved back in the seat with his seatbelt over his lap.
“Daddy, hey Daddy, I have to ask you something.” A set of passengers in nearby rows smile. “Is this a dream?”
The child goes on: “Do you hear that voice?” The safety demonstration in the plane is coming over the speakers.
“Do you see that lady?” The flight attendant is wearing a yellow life vest and showing where it can be inflated. “Is this all a dream?” I try to consider how flying could be surreal when one is young, the world is new, the procedures have yet to be learned. A young man to my left laughs, “I was probably like that when I was a kid,” as he slips into reverie with a smile.
And young, curious boy tries to ask over the sound of the engine, “Daddy. Can you hear something loud?” Everyone listens to it carefully now, a clamor they may not have noticed before.
–Flight to Atlanta, Georgia
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
I was 27 when I took my first trip in an aeroplane. I asked my soon to be husband as we flew to England, “Is this a dream?” It was the first of many dreams come true.
Darlene, How lovely! I’m glad I could bring back that sentiment by eavesdropping on this little boy. 🙂 Now you really are living a dream, my friend!
Paige