Not An Ordinary Day
When Lorraine Barker reported for duty onboard Delta Airline Flight 310, she never imagined how the day would unfold.
Her job always came with a complication or two. Having to manage and look after hundreds of people requires you to be calm. But this time, she had to use her instincts to try to save someone in need before it was too late.
The Beginnings of a Flight Attendant
Lorraine had always been fascinated with traveling the world and meeting new people. As a young girl, she dreamed of being a flight attendant, jetting off to exotic destinations and living a glamorous life. After finishing high school, she applied to every airline she could think of and eventually landed a job at Delta Airlines.
It was hard work, and there were times when she missed home, but Lorraine loved her job. She got to see the world, meet new people, and help others. She had encountered a few difficult passengers and situations, but nothing that had prepared her for what was about to happen on Flight 310.
Welcome To Delta Flight 310
The flight was routine, with passengers settling into their seats, and Lorraine and the other flight attendants going through their usual pre-flight routine.
There were people from all walks of life. Lorraine was used to working on short domestic flights but this would be her first international flight. The ten-hour trip from Salt Lake City, Utah to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil had her excited.
A Helpful Attendant
There were always elderly people that needed her help and some young kids that were traveling alone. She always saw that she was on hand if they needed anything.
She especially liked dealing with children. If some of them were scared, she’d always have something ready that would attract their attention and take their minds off of being afraid of flying.
Suspicious Man
However, today was different. As the plane took off, Lorraine noticed a man sitting in the back row who seemed nervous and fidgety. He had two young girls with him. She tried to approach him, but he avoided eye contact and kept his face hidden behind a baseball cap.
Lorraine’s instincts told her something wasn’t right, and she knew she had to keep a close eye on him throughout the flight.
Nervous Passenger
As the flight progressed, Lorraine noticed the man frequently checking his watch and looking around the cabin. She also observed that he was not carrying any luggage and didn’t seem to be comfortable in his seat.
Lorraine began to worry that he might be carrying something dangerous, but she tried to keep calm and focused, hoping that her fears were unfounded.
Only One Meal
When it was time for the in flight-meal service, the man ordered only one meal for himself and the two young girls. Lorraine found it odd that he didn’t order separate meals for the girls, but she tried not to jump to any conclusions.
However, as she walked down the aisle with the meal tray, she noticed that the girls were not eating. They were looking down at their laps, and their faces were pale and withdrawn. Lorraine’s heart sank as she realized that something was very wrong.
The Girls Looked Unhappy
She noticed the girls were very quiet and just looked down. They had nothing to keep themselves occupied like some parents would bring along coloring books and crayons or an iPad.
They looked sad and she wondered if their dad had probably scolded them for doing something. Lorraine decided to treat the girls to something special to get their spirits up.
A Look Of Disapproval
She gathered some sandwiches and juice boxes to take to them. She knew that this would have them smiling in no time.
When she approached them, the man gave her a disapproving look and said “no”. Lorraine was taken aback by his defiant behavior. She just wanted to put a smile on the children’s faces but this man was hell-bent on stopping her.
She Wanted To Help
She could see they looked lost and craved attention of some kind. They also looked somewhat untidy and their hair looked like it hadn’t been combed in days.
What kind of parent leaves their children in this state? She always wanted children of her own and she couldn’t imagine not taking care of them and leaving them to fend for themselves.
A Plan In Mind
Lorraine knew she had to do something. She couldn’t ignore her gut feeling any longer. She quickly made a plan to discreetly ask the girls if they needed help and to signal the pilot for assistance if necessary.
Lorraine’s heart was racing as she approached the man and his daughters. She put on a smile and leaned down to speak to the girls.
A Polite Conversation
“Hi, do you like drawing?” she asked, trying to start a conversation.
The girls nodded shyly, and Lorraine handed them the coloring books and crayons. As they began to color, she asked them if they were okay and if they needed anything. They looked up at her with sad eyes and nodded their heads. But the man gave an angry stare at her that made her blood run cold.
An Uneasy Feeling
As the flight continued, Lorraine couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not right. She noticed that the man was becoming increasingly agitated and was pacing back and forth in the aisle.
Lorraine watched him closely, ready to intervene if necessary. She also kept a close eye on the girls, hoping that they would be okay.
No Proof
During the flight, she noticed the man had eventually let them each watch a movie. They had their headphones on and seemed a little more at ease.
But Lorraine knew that something wasn’t right. She hadn’t seen this kind of behavior from children before and she was worried that they might be in danger. But there was one problem, she couldn’t prove it.
Finding A Way To Talk To Them
She needed to find a way to communicate with the girls alone. None of them were getting up to go to the bathroom so Lorraine found it difficult to work on her plan.
She continued to watch them as she wheeled the food along the aisles. They looked somewhat happy but she could see fear in their eyes.
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