CommunityChapter 49
- 4 years ago
- 25
- 0
Still Cindy’s turn:
I love today’s ‘connected’ society. By the time Jason and I had made our way back to the FBO office to wait for another rental car, there was a pair of reporters, one from a TV station, the other from a newspaper. Seems that the photos taken by the emergency crew had found their way to a couple of news organizations. That got us accosted by a couple of reporters and a couple of people with cameras, including a video guy.
“Those are my clients,” Bo said. “You might ask them politely if they’d like to be interviewed.”
“Thank you, Bo,” Jason said. “Cindy?”
I giggled. “I’ve done interviews. I reserve the right to terminate the interview at any time. My permission implies that I own any and all notes, video or other collection of data pertaining to this interview and if I determine to terminate the interview, my permission for public use of said data is legally terminated,” I said. “Do you agree?”
“Huh?” squeaked the reporterette from the TV station.
“My words. My pictures. All are property of my employer and myself. Do you agree to our terms?”
She started to backpedal fast. The guy from the newspaper said, “You can’t DO that...”
“Easy, then. No interview. If you publish my name, the name of my company, or the circumstances of that incident and we find them in any way derogatory, you will deal with our legal department. Thank you. Bye-bye!” And I wheeled around to leave.
Jason’s mouth gaped open.
“Sir?” the reporterette said. “Do you...”
“What SHE said,” Jason told her.
“Okay,” the reporterette said.
I whipped out my iPhone. “Okay. I’m Cynthia Richards, recording an agreement between myself and my company and a representative of K--, a TV station as represented by ... Your name, please?”
“Britney Frazier of K-- News.”
“Now say ‘I understand and agree to the conditions as presented to me’.”
“I agree to the conditions presented to me.”
“Okay. Now, you sir?” I said to the other reporter.
“Brice Sullivan of The Daily News. I agree.”
“Good. Now...”
“Dang, lady,” Brice said. “Are you ALWAYS like this?”
Jason, protector of us all, jumped in. “Sir, you’re addressing Doctor Cynthia Richards, PhD. Youngest doctorate ever given by Auburn University. And yes, she’s ALWAYS up.”
“Thank you, Jason,” I said. “Jason Ellerbee is one of our engineers. He was in the co-pilot’s seat when we lost an engine.”
“So it WAS a crash?” the reporterette asked.
“Definitely NOT a crash,” I said. “That’s the whole idea behind multi-engined aircraft – if one engine fails, you have the safety of the remaining engine to effect a much safer landing. We didn’t even spill Jason’s coffee.”
“Excuse me,” Brice interrupted. “Youngest PhD. How old ARE you?”
“I will be eighteen in September.”
“And you can fly a plane?”
“Jason and I are both private pilots. One can become a private pilot at the age of seventeen. I did that. I also got my multi-engine rating and I’m going to get my instrument flight rating before the end of summer, and my commercial license on my eighteenth birthday, just like I got my private license the week of my seventeenth birthday.”
“What field is your doctorate in?” Britney asked.
I noted that the ‘record’ light was flashing on the camera aimed at me. I suppressed a giggle, kept the smirk. “Physics. I also hold a master’s in electrical engineering.”
The conversation took a little detour about what we were doing in Kansas, then went back to the incident.
“Seriously,” I said, “this is exactly why pilots are trained. When we had the problem, we handled the emergency just as I’ve been trained. The air traffic control system functioned perfectly and professionally, the plane performed just as could be expected with its problem, and nobody got hurt. Nothing damaged. Still didn’t spill Jason’s coffee.”
“Do you know what caused the problem?” Brice asked.
“Yes, we do,” I said. “The FBO’s got a very competent staff. Their mechanic jumped right into the investigation. A bit of control equipment on the engine failed. It was thirty-odd years old, had been doing its job for three thousand hours, and had passed the last inspection six months ago. Today it quit. Six hundred thousand miles.” I giggled. “Don’tcha hate unreliable equipment?”
Questions about aircraft maintenance and longevity. “My friend Mister Barton’s flying a plane built in 1946. Still works like the day they rolled it out of the factory. With TLC, airplanes last a long time.” I smiled. “Of course, when they don’t, things get really tense. But that’s what we train for.”
A few more questions about me and school and the company. Those won’t make the news story, but I think they’re part of a concerted technique to loosen the interviewee up to see if anything juicy comes out.
“No, you can’t get a picture of the plane,” Bo said. “Restricted area. Insurance restrictions. Besides, there’s nothing to see except a cowling off, anyway.”
In the midst of that hubbub Jason signed for a rental car. They won’t let ME rent one. I’m ‘underage’. It would be funny if it weren’t so inconvenient.
The two news crews left.
“I dunno how they found out...” Bo said.
“Somebody took pictures, probably sent them out and they managed to find their way to the newsrooms. A lot of newsrooms encourage that ‘citizen reporter’ thing. I’m surprised,” I said. “No fire. No bodies. We’re hardly news.”
“Must be a slow day,” Jason said.
“Yeah. And Dan’s haulin’ butt with Nikki’s Mooney, trying to get here...”
“And it’s likely we can fly back tomorrow,” Jason said. “Seems a waste of a trip.”
“My Dan. He worries.”
Jason snorted. “He didn’t get to see Cindy in action when we lost the engine. I was impressed, myself.”
“You were a great help. At least you didn’t squeal and get the vapors...”
“Thank you. Tell my wife that. She’s worried you’ll turn our son into an orphan.”
“She IS not!” I squealed.
“You two sound like you’re married,” the lady behind the counter said.
“Nope. He married my adopted sister. I have the right to dispense misery upon him in his wife’s absence.”
The lady laughed, shaking her head. “Now I understand completely.”
“Jase,” I said, why don’t you call a hotel and see if you can get a couple of rooms. Dan’s got at least another three hours of flight to get here.”
“I’ll do that,” he said. He tossed me the keys to the rental car. “You can go rescue our luggage from the plane.”
I commandeered a golfcart from the FBO, retrieved our bags. Yes, I had enough clothes for the night. I never pack for the schedule. Dan has me trained – plan for at least some level of disaster – better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. In short order the luggage was in the car.
Before we left I checked back with the mechanic. “Parts will be installed before noon. You want a test flight?”
“You betcha,” I said.
“Then you’ll be out of here by early afternoon.”
“Sounds good.” I went back inside, collected Jason. Let him drive since I’m seventeen and can’t drive a rental car, despite the fact that I can land an airplane with the flight characteristics of a ruptured duck.
Both rooms are in Jason’s name. That ‘she’s only seventeen’ thing again. I toyed with the idea of a shower but decided to wait. It’s a pretty big shower and Dan proves to be very helpful under those circumstances.
It’s only when I stretch out on the bed that the enormity of the day hits me. I actually get the shakes. I want my Dan, but he’s still a couple of hours out. So I call Nikki.
“Seriously, Cin,” she squeaks. “You REALLY lost an engine?”
“Really.”
“I hope I’m cool enough to handle that...”
“You just DO,” I said. “Like when you tested for your private license and they pulled that ‘emergency landing’ thing. It’s YOUR plane. You just take charge and DO it...”
“But I watch you and Wally and there’s a lot of steps...”
“Oh, don’t give me that ‘it’s too complex’ crap, Doctor Granger...”
Giggle. “Well, yeah, but it’s things you have to remember and you have to have a feel for...”
“So how’d the news go around the office?”
“Which office? 3Sigma or Auburn?”
“All of ‘em.”
“You need to up your game. People are getting sort of jaded about you and your flying biz. It’s like, ‘Well, it’s Cindy. It’s a good thing she doesn’t have access to an F-16.”
“F-16’s only got one engine.”
“Pffft! You know what I mean.”
“I guess. But it was like, when it happened, like when I get in the zone on math or some problem ... the outside world just shut down and there it was, me, the airplane...”
“Susan said Jason helped.”
“Jason DID help. Checklist. Handled the gear and flaps, pushed a rudder pedal until I could get us trimmed up...”
“And he didn’t crap himself.”
“Nope. Jason gets a medal. Bravery in the face of Cindy.”
“I’ll mention that to Susan,” she giggled. Nikki giggling. That means things are okay. That’s what I need from my sister.
“Talking about it helps, you know,” I told my friend. “It didn’t hit me until I got to the room and lay down, then ... You’re still my support, you know...”
“Sisters’re like that.”
“Indeed they are.”
“So when will you be back?”
“The mechanic says he’ll have the part installed before noon. We sort of want to do a test flight. I’m thinking we put that controller through its range of operation. The mechanic signs off, and then we’re on the way home. So tomorrow, five or six...”
“But you’re okay now?” Nikki queried.
“Yeah ... I think so.”
“Wanna say ‘hi’ to the munchkins?”
“Of course.”
“They’re just coming through the door.”
I heard the timbre of the phone change as she put it on speaker. “Tell Cindy ‘hi’.”
Trio. “Hi, Cindy!” then Terri, “Glad you didn’t get hurt.” And Rachel, “Or break the airplane.”
“Be nice to my Aunt Cindy, y’all,” Vicki chirped. “When’re you getting home?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow evening if the repairs work okay,” I said.
“Good!” Terri said. “Nikki’s beating us when you’re not looking.”
I heard Nikki’s exasperated cluck. “Did you three get any further on that track to quadruped idea?”
“Yes,” Terri said. “And we think we can handle some limb loss...”
“Cindy, Let me go see where this is going.”
“‘Kay, love,” I said, then to the Mafia, “Y’all get ready to tell me what’s going on in those pineapple heads of yours.”
“Yes, Aunt Cindy,” came the chorus.
I rolled back over onto my back. I do feel better now. I stretched, then got the laptop out and ran over a few emails of significance, checked the local TV station, saw a little piece, video of me being interviewed, heavily edited, about twenty or thirty seconds, a little write-up, a still shot of me and Jason and the emergency crew that was taken while we were still out there on the taxiway. Okay, not bad. I need to remember to buy a newspaper in the morning.
Next thing is a phone call from one of the techs we brought up here.
“Hi, Burt,” I answered. “What’s up?”
“I got me ‘n’ Dickie here. What happened?”
“I brought y’all to Kansas to work, that’s what happened.”
“You know what I’m talkin’ about.”
“Oh, you mean the engine failure?”
“You know we do.”
“The controller for the turbo on the #1 engine went south just after we took off, heading for home. Me ‘n’ Jason shut the engine down, returned to the airport. Wasn’t that big a deal. Just like practice.”
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Bill Hardesty’s turn: I’ve just become Bill 3.0. Cindy officially conferred the status upon me. “Bill 1.0’s my adopted dad. Bill 2.0’s Haley’s husband in Louisiana. Since you’re part of this now, you shall be Bill 3.0.” Which is fine, except to Herself, the Vickster, I’m ‘Billy’. “Cindy said you were ‘Billy’ when she first met you.” “I was. I like to think that I’m mature enough to be ‘Bill’ now.” Sparkly eyes. “Not ‘William’?” “Bill.” Snicker. “Billy.” That snicker is one reason I’m...
Beck’s turn: First thing I did when we got home is call Mom. “Hello, my lost daughter,” Mom said, using her best ‘poor me’ voice. “Did somebody go into the hospital? It is not yet Saturday.” “Mom, your GRAD-daughter...” ““GRAND daughter,” Mom corrected. “My grand-daughter the millionaire...” “Your grand-daughter the research scientist...” “What has become of her now?” “She’s holding a letter in her hands that says she’s graduated college with a degree in engineering.” “My...
Teresa’s turn: Mom’s totally destroyed. I’m standing on a pedestal, a seamstress, a REAL seamstress, is taking measurements for my wedding dress. “Mom, stop crying, for heaven’s sake...” “Every time I think about you getting married,” Mom sobbed. “It’s the expected progression in life. Grow up, leave home, get married...” “Finish college is in there somewhere,” Vicki said. She’s my co-conspirator. We’re getting married the same day. She’s tagged my little brother, a big surprise, since...
Susan's turn: I'm waiting for the aliens to show up. Here's how I figure it will break down. Nikki and Cindy will work with Terri and Rachel on the Star Wars squirrel denial system. They'll actually GET that 95 gigahertz transmitter, and in the process of modulating its output so that it only severely annoys squirrels instead of cooking them on the spot out there in the yard, they'll transmit a signal into space where it will be picked up by an alien spacecraft. The aliens will come...
Bill Carmody’s turn: Yesterday’s wedding was a delight, especially watching my NEW daughter (!) and Cindy, my original daughter, looking and acting very much like twins. Can’t help but grin, just thinking about it. Both of ‘em have a little fire in their eyes, and when they’re together, you can nearly SEE the sparks flying between them. Couldn’t have asked for a more unlikely development, right up to matching green dresses they bought together for the wedding. And my phone buzzes --...
Tina's turn: "What's so funny?" my husband asked. "Stoney and Jo are coming back and they're still flyin' that Pitts." "Did they buy it?" "She says 'no', but two trips, you gotta wonder." I giggled. I know the real reason. A combination of scheduling conflicts and weather had kept us from holding the weekend airport social and landing contest. The social, however, now had a few outside participants. I mean, it was bound to happen. We don't exist in a vacuum. On any given...
Cindy’s turn: 0700 for a wake-up. The alarm caught me when it went off. Sometimes I’m drifting between sleep and awake, but not this morning. I finally got to sleep, found out that Dana’s a kicker, so I kicked back. When the alarm went off, I let it roll for a bit, listening to the whines and other sounds of the gang waking up. I killed it, turned to get out of bed, but was a bit slow. I saw a T-shirted Rachel flash by muttering “bathroom...” Well, at least with two rooms we can split the...
Tina's turn: I keep telling myself that Bot-bot is not a real pet. I only wish I knew what was going on in my little girl's mind. Parse that statement, won't you? I have a stepdaughter who's ten years younger than me, who is probably past me in some ways, academically speaking. I know she does things with technology that all of us in the community wonder about. What went on in her head that caused her to take a mobile squirrel repeller platform and convert it into a pet? Yeah, I know,...
Tim's turn: I'd be a janitor for 3Sigma after seeing how Vicki and Kim fit in here. I'm THAT happy. That whole 'divorced dad' thing is horrible. I mean, you talk with your daughter on the phone once or twice a week, trying to stay up with what's going on in her life, and then you get a week or so for Thanksgiving or Christmas and you get a few weeks in the summer. A week was BAD. I don't know little girls. Until this past year, I didn't have my own place, so we cribbed up at Mom and...
Donna's turn: Do you know how to bring on pure pandemonium in my daughter's little community? Let me tell you. Saturday nights are the big night for music. Everybody's usually there. Well, sometimes we add Stoney and Johanna, sometimes Jason and Susan are off visiting one set of impending grandparents or the other. This particular weekend, though, we're all together. Me and Bill, we have our own swing there. So we laugh and sing and dance and then there's a break and my Bill stands...
Terri's turn: I really DO love my mom. I'm speaking of my natural mom, the person who carried me for nine months, then gave birth to me. I did not and still do not understand why she left Dad for Mister Martin. I know both men and there's no comparison. Tina tells me that there are things that go on in people's hearts and heads that are not easily defined. Defined. If you define 'step-mom', it means the woman who marries your dad. That's Tina. Dictionary definitions are so...
Nikki's Turn: Mommyhood hangs over us all. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way disparaging FOUR new mommies. Let's run down the list. Susan 'n' Jason have little JW – Jason Wallace, named after him and his dad. Alan and Tina have Katherine Genevieve – after nobody in particular, but Terri is forbidden to call her Kathygen. Johanna and Stoney have Randall Stonewall, and Mister Bill and Mizz Donna have Cindy's half-sister Elise Ann, a whole two days old. I'm likely to be the next. My...
Still Nikki’s turn: I squeezed Dan’s fingers. “A bit of bad luck, this,” I said. “Baby, be so kind as to hand me my iPhone. I need to get the news out.” Dana’s turn: We’re a pretty connected group here. I mean, everybody’s always texting and posting updates during the day, so when I got one from Nikki, I knew where she was supposed to be – on campus with the munchkins. I thought I’d see another ‘you won’t believe what Terri (or Rachel or Vicki) just did’ post. It wasn’t. I’m at the...
Derek’s turn: This is trouble. Wonderful, happy, delightful, ecstatically wonderful. But trouble. I knew what was going to happen when Rachel called me to help her feed Dana’s cat. Empty apartment except for me and Rachel and the cat, and the cat gets petted while I’m sitting next to Rachel and the cat leaves and Rachel turns to me. I like kissing her. I like holding her. We talk about everything. Tara says we’re too young to have a past, but I’ve lived through a car wreck and the loss of...
Cindy’s turn: It was just another morning in the office when the phone rang and as Maddie was occupied, I answered it. “3Sigma, this is Cindy. May I help you?” “Cindy? Good, it’s you I wanted to talk to.” “Hello Mizz Patel. What’s going on today?” “Would you mind if I drive out to your office? I’d like to talk about something in private.” I noted that she didn’t have her normal happy lilt. “Of course it’s okay. You’re always welcome here.” This was unusual for her though, so I added,...
Tara’s turn: We did it. Derek and I talked. He agreed, but honestly, I’m the adult in this equation, actually his legal guardian, and he would have had to go along with my plan. However, a certain pre-teen Jewish princess seems to have gained my little brother’s eye. I think that if we HADN’T decided to move, he might’ve hitched a ride back here. The apartment. Cindy and her Dan used to live here. It belongs to the corporation. They told me I could paint it any color I wanted, but honestly,...
Dana’s turn: I’m lying in bed in that wonderful cusp between awake and asleep at the end of a very good day. Cindy’s done her presentation at NASA, and to my knowledge, they haven’t yet recruited her for a space mission. Nikki’s been, well, Nikki, and she’s a superstar in her own right, maybe a little more sane than Cindy, but those two are a binary system, both bright in a way I never witnessed until I found her sitting across the table from me and Ed one night at dinner. And...
Nikki’s turn: I managed the stress of Mom’s interaction in my life quite well, I thought, right until Mizz Donna met me at the plane and hugged me. Then the floodgates opened. “What was I supposed to do, Mizz Donna?” I sobbed. Poor Dan. He’s standing behind me, wanting to do SOMETHING. “Darlin’,” she said comfortingly, “You did the right thing. World’s full of assholes. I used to be one, so I know...” I heaved a wordless sob. Mizz Donna was hugging me, Dan’s hand was touching my...
Kara’s turn: The world NEEDS a pregnant fiddle player. That’s what I told Dear Old Dad when I broke the news to him. “Dad,” I said, “I have a wonderful, successful husband and it is only right that we present you with grandchildren.” I heard a definite sigh over the phone. My dad. I’m trying really hard to conjure (one of Johanna’s words) a vision of business-suited Dad bouncing a grandbaby on his knee. “You make me regret that I didn’t make myself a bigger part of your life, Kara...
Nikki’s turn: We’re still talking about new toys, right? Cindy was PIC for the flight back from Colorado with the new plane. Fair enough. After all, Cindy IS ‘Cindy of the Skies‘. When we landed, though, we had the entire community standing there waiting on the arrival. It’s a big deal. Cindy exited first. Me? I stood in the door, my butt still inside indescribable luxury and newness, and said, “Okay, who wants a ride?” We have seating for eight – one of their ‘executive’ options – plus...
Cindy’s turn: Tina started this volume. I get to finish it. Christmas season. Or Chanukkah, because we have a sizable Jewish contingent now. It’s been quite a good year in a million ways. Okay, SEVERAL million ways, financially speaking. 3Sigma’s original business, engineering, is now engineering and construction, and we regularly berate ourselves because we’re bursting the seams on our SECOND building since the company started. Millions going into various accounts, and some of the happiest...