On an Airplane by William Capozzoli

The pilot announced over the intercom, “Folks we’re experiencing some turbulence. Please remain seated.” I was almost asleep until he interrupted, “Folks we’re sustaining some light damage to the exterior of the aircraft, we're going to make an immediate emergency landing at an air station”. The exotic location of the airstrip in lower outer-space made up for the shrieks and squeals of the non-seasoned passengers. What a bunch of wimps. The view was beautiful: a large behemoth of grey matter that resembled an aircraft carrier, in the middle of a black background speckled by stars and offset by the planet biosphere below. If only Van Gough had an easel up here. I was impressed.

Anyways I was more focused on watching the technicians weld a metal graft onto the left wing of the airplane. It looked like tough work. I don't know how they'd light up a cigarette on break in outer space but its probably not permitted on the tarmacs in the States either. Tough luck. The technicians finished and the flight takeoff was business as usual. We were plummeting back down to earth. I couldn't take part in the cheers and jeers because something felt off. We were pointing downward a few degrees too sharply. Maybe I was the only one who noticed this given my extensive flight experience. I didn't want to ask "Mam are we in a nosedive?" because it might freak people out if she replies "I can go ask the captain if its a good time to deploy the O2 masks". I tried to check the time on my watch but the flight attendant blocked my wrist with her hand and said, “You’re not going to be needing this sir. It is all going to end very soon." I chuckled at how this was the first time in my life I felt like I was going to die and that I was tired of listening to aviation workers and interpreting their updates correctly. Makes for a bland travel experience. So I reclined back in my seat and figured I'd just take everything as it comes. People say to live life straight no chaser. That's how I was taking the cabin vodka and it gave me a halfheartedly soothing head-rush.

Needless to say I woke up shaking in a spacious airplane cabin. Clear blue skies on both sides of the plane. The children sitting next to me were giggling and imitating how badly I was shaking in my sleep. The pilot started muffling on the intercom. I put my headphones on to filter it out and get back to sleep. I was curious to see how the nosedive would end up.