Room 9 by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 3

Teenagers are not generally known for rising early, but today was an exception as their flight out of Portland International was scheduled for eight o’clock they were forced to rise at five in the morning. As is typical, they complained the entire way to the airport. But Kate’s mother reminded them of the rare opportunity waiting for them at the end of their trip, and after boarding the plane, the group quickly fell asleep, including Kate’s mother. However, their slumber was broken by the plane’s wheels as they touched down in Boston, accompanied by the whining of rapidly slowing engines. Still drowsy, the group slowly disembarked and walked the short distance to the terminal. Kate was the first to ask.

“Are we there yet?” Her voice was groggy and her eyes bloodshot. Aircraft seats are not ordinarily used as beds, and the group was already feeling their lack of comfort.

“Not yet,” her mother replied. “We’re only in Boston. We’ve still got a ways to go yet.”

Upon leaving the plane, Kate groaned in disappointment as she slowly found her way to the nearest chair. Her mother, however, was quick to interrupt her and directed her instructions to the entire group, now seated at the gate.

“Guys,” she began. “This isn’t our gate. C’mon, we gotta get going.” Ethan was the first to speak up. “Can’t we just sit here for a while? Just for a few minutes?” Those who had not fallen asleep also groaned their displeasure at the idea of having to muster enough energy to walk to the next gate. “Do you guys want to go to NASA or not?” Elaine continued.

She expected a few minor issues from the teens and certainly, this would qualify, but missing their connecting flight was not an option. The only response from the group was the muffled grumbles of protest as they got to their feet. Grabbing their carry-on bags, they stammered to the next gate, where they promptly drifted off as soon as their back-sides hit the chairs. Half an hour went by before a loudspeaker blared out the call to board, and slowly the teens got to their feet, hurried by Elaine.

“C’mon guys,” she said. “We gotta move.”

Getting to their feet, they made their way to the check-in line with boarding passes in hand, trudging forward every few seconds with an expression of near coma glazed over their faces. But Elaine had managed to cheat the effects of sleep deprivation by quickly procuring a large cup of coffee, and with wakeful eyes she continued as the group's sentinel, making sure that everyone stayed together. Now, passing through check-in, the group boarded the plane and finding their seats put their carry-on baggage in the overhead compartments. None of them were awake long enough to hear the flight attendant’s instructions, but they did remain awake long enough to fasten their seat-belts. The rest of the flight was spent deep in an exhausted sleep, broken only by the aircraft’s bumpy landing.