Nine-One-One

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AS THIS IS SUCH A SHORT FLIGHT AND THERE IS SO MUCH TURBULENCE, WE WILL BE PROVIDING A RESTRICTED INFLIGHT SERVICE. IN FACT, IT WILL BE SELF-SERVICE."

Jennifer had a big playful grin all over her face as she made the announcement.

"FIRST, HELP YOURSELF TO SOME PEANUTS."

She started sliding peanuts down the cabin aisle. The airplane’s steep ascent made it seem like they were sliding down the face of a steeply sloped mountain.

"SIR, STOP BEING SUCH A PEANUT HOG. GRAB YOURSELF ONE BAG AND LET THE REST SLIDE BY."

This was so much fun, even Samantha joined in the scramble for nuts.

"Get me some Samantha. Get me some." In his excitement, Joshua allowed his fear to go and hide in that background place that Samantha had spoken of earlier.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I’M NOT AS CRUEL AS JENNIFER, SO WE WILL SHORTLY COMMENCE A FULL INFLIGHT SERVICE. AND, WE SHALL PASS OUT SOME MORE PEANUTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE OF YOU WHO PREFER THEM SERVED IN A MORE CONVENTIONAL MANNER,"

Bradley announced this with much laughter in his voice. Then he got serious:

"ALTHOUGH YOU WILL SEE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS MOVING ABOUT THE CABIN, PLEASE REMAIN SEATED WITH YOUR SEATBELTS SECURELY FASTENED UNTIL THE CAPTAIN TURNS OFF THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN. ONCE SHE DOES YOU’LL NOTICE THERE ARE TWO LAVATORIES ON-BOARD: ONE AT THE FRONT AND ONE AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. SINCE 9-1-1, FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS PROHIBIT PASSENGERS FROM MAKING A LINE AT THE FRONT LAVATORY OR GATHERING IN THE FRONT GALLEY AREA…."

"Samantha?"

"Yes, Joshua."

"What does using a bathroom on an airplane have to do with calling the emergency services?"

"I don’t know. What do you mean exactly?"

"Well, Bradley keeps on telling us that we cannot make a line for the forward bathroom because of 9-1-1."

Samantha looked to the heavens in thought for a while and then burst into laughter for what seemed like several minutes, though it was just several seconds. Joshua was immediately embarrassed. He felt like the outsider to a big secret.

"I’m so sorry, Joshua. I don’t mean to mock you, but that was the funniest unintentional joke I think I’ve ever heard. It’s not the ‘9-1-1’ for emergency services; it’s ‘9-11.’ You know. ‘NINE–ELEVEN’!" she repeated with pronounced emphasis.

"It stands for September 11, 2001," she explained, looking at him quizzically.

"You really don’t know, do you?" Joshua shook his head, confirming her suspicion.

"On that day terrorists took hostage four U.S. commercial aircraft, just like this one. They forced the pilots of two aircraft to crash into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. One aircraft crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and a fourth crashed into a field near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over 4000 people died and the World Trade Center buildings, symbols of the American way, were destroyed. To prevent anything like that ever happening again, the government, the airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration introduced several measures. No lines for the front bathroom is just one of those measures. It keeps passengers away from the cockpit. A second measure was to reinforce all cockpit doors to prevent anyone from taking away control of a plane from the pilots.

"Joshua, I really like you. You’re so funny." Samantha chuckled whilst putting a comforting arm around Joshua’s shoulder. He blushed and gently pulled away.

"Why did they do it?" he asked with a frowned brow.

"It’s hard to say really, but sometimes people see others as a threat because they have different beliefs and live differently, or even because they look different. Dad says it is a fear that grows out of misunderstanding.

"Sometimes people can become so misguided that they do something really bad, like 9-11, the reasons for which no one else can understand. What always remains, though, is our belief in God—that God has everything under control and that some good will always come from even the most horrible situations. Sometimes God needs to remind us of things we take for granted.

"9-11 reminded us that we are a proud and brave people who are prepared to sacrifice for what we believe to be right. It reminded us that united we stand. Some of us had forgotten how blessed we are to live in such a great country that values freedom for everyone regardless of their race, color, creed or religion.

"9-11 also encouraged the nations of the world to stand firm against terrorists who would harm others through ignorance, and so make the world a safer place.

"9-11 exposed the terrorists as independent and not representative of any nation or people. They are the bad apples in the bunch. We must find a way to distinguish between the bad apples and the good ones. So, you see, Joshua, God really is in control.

"I’m not going to let anyone scare me out of the skies; out of my roller coaster and take-offs and landings. No Sir, not me! If we do that, the terrorists win. I won’t let them win, Joshua. I won’t do that! Promise me you won’t let them either. Promise me you won’t be scared away from the skies. It is a symbol of your freedom. One day you will love flying, just like I do. You’ll want to do it for leisure, pleasure and, maybe, even for business. Joshua, promise me!" Samantha was so insistent that Joshua could not imagine saying anything other than what he did:

"Yes, Ma’am. I promise."

"Cross your heart and hope to die?"

"Yes, cross my heart and hope to die."

"And, stop calling me Ma’am," Samantha said with a smile that betrayed her embarrassment at Joshua’s genuine respect for her.

"Yes, Ma’am. I will," he replied, though this time in jest. They looked at each other and laughed aloud. They were in their own little world. For all they cared, they could have been the only ones on the plane in that moment.

Although happy, Joshua felt a little strange inside. He had a strong feeling that he had just committed to something that was going to prove very important in his later life. When their laughter dwindled, Joshua and Samantha said nothing for quite a while, continuing their journey on flight 1945 in somber mood.