The Power of Imagination

For my birthday, I was taken to an airfield. I went in to talk with the receptionist and I gave her my identification card. She went through the data base, “We’ve been expecting you, sir. You’re going to enjoy this immensely! ” she said with a toothy grin. The flight suited jumper walks in and says with a voice, tinged with concern, “Is this the first time you have jumped?” I nod with little enthusiasm and reply with a grimace, “Yes it is, and I have heard you are the best of the best.”

Whilst we talk, we walk out to the hanger. We walk inside and I hear the loud zoom of the air conditioner. The sound is enough to make the hairs on my back stand up like razors. Because today I will be doing a HALO (High Altitude Low Orbit) and jump out of an AC130. The mere thought of it makes me shudder with fear. I feel as if someone’s hand is in my stomach, squeezing it to the point that I nearly faint. The jumper looks over at me and says glumly, “You were not paying any attention, were you?” I shake my head slowly as if going any faster will make me have a heart attack and say, “No”.

We then suit up, and twenty minutes later we are in the air. I feel my ears pop more than once. Then we hear a faint ping trying unsuccessfully to be heard over the roar of the engines. The jumper yells at the top of his lungs, “Let’s do this!” I swallow the lump in my throat and get ready. We are on the edge of the ramp fighting the gale force winds to stand. Then, we jump and I scream. I awake to the sound of my Mum’s soothing voice telling me it’s alright, that it was just a dream.