(no subject)
Week 6
This was a story I wrote a little while ago ... based it on a true story so I really like perfecting it ..
I have gone through and edited a this semester ... thought i would post it this week as I was away for both the lecture and tutorial this week due to illness.
Dad’s aeroplane
“Bye, mum!” Lucas Stewart called out that Monday morning. “Goodbye sweetie! Are you sure you don’t want to go to school today? You’ve had a long, hard weekend.” Lucas’s mum, Beth Stewart called out. “No mum. I’m fine! I’m really excited to go!” And Lucas left without further ado. “Oh, and see you soon dad!” Lucas called as he stepped outside.
Waiting at the front of his house was his best friend Maddy. He looked to see her mum parked a little further up the street waiting for him. “What’s that in your hand?” Maddy asked. “My dad got me this aeroplane,” Lucas said. “I love it lots! I’m going to show it at school today.” Lucas beamed proudly. “Wow! Cool Lucas.” Maddy said in awe.
Lucas and Maddy headed towards the school gate. As they walked through, all the mums in the school playground were looking at Lucas. He wondered why, but he still kept walking. As he passed one of his friend’s mums, she dabbed her eye with a handkerchief.
As soon as the school bell rang, Lucas and Maddy walked up the stairs and entered their classroom. Lucas looked around at his fellow classmates. He wondered why the minute he stepped into the classroom everyone was quiet. His teacher, Miss Fletcher, asked him and Maddy to sit down.
Once the class had settled down, Miss Fletcher walked to the board. “Ahh… Lucas, can you please put this chalk away for me?” she asked sweetly. “Yes miss.” Lucas replied as he walked to the back of the room. Miss Fletcher started talking to the rest of the class but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. When Lucas walked back to the front of the classroom she had suddenly stopped talking.
“Do you all know what today is?” she asked the class. “Yes, miss”, the class, replied, all at once. “Okay… Amanda Baker, who are all the people that are coming today?” Miss Fletcher asked. “My dad! Oh, and everyone else’s dad!” she answered as she jumped up from the floor. “That right! Okay, can all the please dads come in?” Miss Fletcher asked while she looked outside and saw a bunch of shadows outside the doorway.
As the fathers entered the room, every one of them was trying was finding his child. Lucas then had a look around. He saw Miss Fletcher lift the world map from the chalkboard. Written underneath was a big sign that had “DAD’S DAY” written in the blue and red chalk. “Okay, thank you everyone.” Miss Fletcher said and she gave a quick look at Lucas. He looked very excited. “Lucas, do you want to come and sit with me?” she queried. “No miss, I’m okay here,” he said. “Okay then, would someone like to come and start off? Who wants to talk to the class about their dad’s?” Every single student, including Lucas’ hand shot up and they were waving around madly. “Okay, let me choose one…Amanda, would you like to talk to us about your dad Dan?”
Once all fathers had stood up and been introduced to the class, they realised there was still one child who hadn’t presented yet. That was Lucas. He got up without being called on and stood at the front of the class. Everyone started talking. “Shhhh please,” Lucas said to the crowd. “What are you gonna talk to us about Lucas?” Miss Fletcher asked with a puzzled look upon her face. “I got this plane on the weekend from my dad and I’m gonna talk about it.” He replied. “But he shouldn’t even be up there!” Amanda erupted. At that very moment, Lucas’ mother burst in. “Lucas. Lucas darling. I told you to stay home today.” She said it sternly this time. “No mum.” Lucas said bravely. “Im gonna stand here and talk about dad.”
“My dad is a pilot. He flies around the world. He loves planes, and so do I. When my dad comes home we play with our aeroplanes. This aeroplane is one that my dad had when he was a kid. I like this more than any of my other aeroplanes. That’s why I bought it today.” Lucas explained. “So where’s your dad then?” Amanda asked rudely. “Well,” Lucas started. “My dad was flying a plane to Thailand. He was carrying food parcels and helping transport bodies, some which are dead, to help with the Tsunami that happened at Christmas time. We were told last week that his plane has gone missing. More than likely, he is dead. Maybe he drowned or the plane crashed. Nobody knows.” The class stopped. Amanda had started to cry. “But I know that dad’s okay.” Lucas spoke up. “He’s still alive, and he is here with us.” Lucas said determinately. “Sweetie, he’s not, you’re…you’re… father’s gone. That’s why we had a memorial for your dad this weekend. Don’t make this any harder for us.” She pleaded with tears swelling in her eyes. “But mum, he’s not dead. I never believed it and I never will.”
One second I was looking down and seeing my son, in a classroom and I felt so proud of him, then one second later I saw a man standing over me with a worried and confused look on his face, telling me it was all right and he thought it was a miracle I was alive.
Out of nowhere, Beth’s mobile phone rang. She jumped up in fright. She took a deep breath before she answered the phone call right on the last ring. “Mrs Stewart”, a man with an American accent asked. The whole class became silent. “Yes” she answered timidly, as she left her phone on speaker and her hands were shaking too much for her to fix it. “I am part of the rescue teams from America in Thailand. We have found your husband, Mr Stewart. He is right here next to me. He sends his love. We nearly lost him completely, but he was here now and kept chanting your mobile number. He is being flown up to the local hospital immediately. I have to go now, but please, as soon as you get the chance, please come here to Thailand.” She hung up the phone, and noticed her mouth was still hanging open. Everyone turned to face Lucas with a smile upon his face. Then he looked around with a look on his face - a look of “I told you so.”