Up, Up and Away

"I can't believe this is happening, I'm so excited" Leann happy-danced in the parking lot on her way to the launch site. "I've always wanted to do this! This is going to be the best birthday ever!"

Her husband Leo smiled as he locked up the car and followed. "I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about doing this." He'd planned the ride as a surprise for her birthday. It's not as if he had to think hard about it, she's been hinting for years that a balloon ride would be an awesome present. The launch field was close to their house and it was a no-brainer to call and get the ride when he'd forgotten to buy a gift. He'd forgotten her birthday a few years in a row, so he figured this would make up for it.

The ride was going to be gorgeous, since Leann's birthday was in October and the trees were in full color. It would be like sailing over a painting. And it was the perfect day for a trip, full sunshine and a light breeze.

He watched her run across the field to the pilot and bounce up and down next to the guy. As he caught up to her, he could hear Malak, the pilot explaining how the envelope would soon lift and the balloon would be held only by the tethers staked in the ground. He handed Leann her camera and stepped back to watch the colorful silk fill with air. The chase van was parked nearby with the team standing around sipping coffees and waiting.

Leann squealed as Malak jetted a large flame into the envelope. "I'm so nervous! I hope I don't do anything embarrassing like pee myself." She laughed and hugged herself, wrapping her arms around her beloved camera. She couldn't wait to get in the air.

Leo rolled his eyes. There she goes, saying stupid shit and embarrassing him. The woman had absolutely no internal editor. Whatever came to mind, she blurted out. It got old.

Malak was showing Leann some of the controls. She was snapping photos of everything. Why she had to have photos of all the parts and pieces of the damn balloon, was a mystery. She was a little crazy like that, photographing everything she did. She probably had a million pictures of the flowers in her garden.

Soon enough, the balloon was upright and straining at the tether lines. Malak set a small stool next to the basket so Leann and Leo could climb in. The pilot gave some last minute instructions to the chase team and also climbed in. He adjusted a few controls and nodded to the team to release the tethers. The basket lifted quickly and then moved smoothly as the wind caught the balloon and started them on their trip. Leann scurried from side to side as she snapped photos of the countryside. Leo leaned against the side and was actually enjoying the view.

They floated further and further across the countryside, often losing the chase van as it had to stick to the roadways to follow. Malak flared more heat into the balloon and said he'd show them the view from a bit higher. Leo got a bit nervous as the trees grew smaller and the wind tore at the passengers. Leann moved closer to him to take another photo.

She looked up to him. "This is definitely the best birthday gift, ever." She stepped forward to hug him but her camera swung around and whacked into his groin.

"Ow, Leann!" He cried out, rubbing himself and scowling at her. "You're always such a klutz!" He pushed her away from him.

Leann's eyes welled up with tears and she moaned. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" She bumped into the side of the basket and the camera dropped, falling over the side of the basket. "Oh!" They both crowded to the edge and looked over the side, watching it fall and crash to the ground.

"I can't believe you dropped it! How stupid can you be?" As he shouted at her, she just stared at him. As he leaned once again to try to see a landmark, he was suddenly flipped off his feet and thrown over the side. He clung there, screaming and looking up at Leann. "Give me a hand!" The basket rocked as he clawed the edge, trying to hang on.

"A hand?" She stepped back and softly applauded as he lost his grip and fell, screaming. The last Leann saw of Leo was his crumpled body in a clearing between the trees.

Leann stared at Malak with her fist over her mouth. He nodded at her. For a long time, neither said a word.

"I can't believe it worked." She started crying, hard. "I can't believe it."

Malak smiled at her. "You're free, darling." She fell into his arms, sobbing against his chest and shaking like a leaf.

"I joked about this for years. I even said this would be the perfect thing, two years ago when I took my first ride with you." She shook her head, wiping her eyes. "Who knew? I just wanted to do something brave for myself."

Malak pulled her into a hug. "Accidents happen all the time." He looked down at her, smiling. "And now you're mine."

WC 889