The Opening Flight

Bobby had been working for hours at the display.  He had helped set-up and was now helping all sorts of people to make their very own PPP-1.  Bobby had lost track of time, teaching people to make paper airplanes was the most fun he had ever had.  Reality began abruptly for Bobby when Dave tapped him on the shoulder and said "LET'S GO!"  Bobby followed Dave towards the launch truck and gliders as if he were in a trance.  Getting ready was a blur..., harness check, bungees off, slack out, pressure up, radio check..  Go to cruise!  Time, that had seemed to be going so fast now was in slow motion and climbing at 900 feet per minute.  In no time Bobby and Dave were so high the spectators looked like ants, they could see for miles, the ride was smooth with just a few bumps here and there.  Bobby saw the launch truck stop at the end of the runway and watched the towline fall away.  "Get ready, here we go"!  Dave's voice caught Bobby's attention and made him unconsciously tense a bit.  Dave reached out and ignited the smokes.  Then, pulling in on the bar, they dove for speed and performed a series of graceful climbing turns and steep dives.  The high banked 360  before landing almost got Bobby dizzy.  They had a perfect landing and Bobby looked up to where he had been.  The smoke trails were still hanging in the sky and he was light on his feet.  Bobby remembered reading what Leonardo da Vinci had once said, "for Once you have touched the sky, there you have been, and there you will always long to be".  Bobby smiled to himself, he now understood Leonardo.  The rest of the day was kinda anti-climatic compared to the fact that he, himself, had flown in the opening flight of the airshow.  The rest of the show was good though, the Thunderbirds, a big loud bi-plane and a bunch of other stuff.  Bobby's favorite act was when Jessi, Silent Flights lady pilot, released 50 of the world's best paper airplanes from 500 feet over his head.  The planes flew all over the place and one almost landed by him but was caught by an older and taller person.  Bobby didn't mind though, he had one at home.  Home was where he found himself when he woke up.  He had fallen asleep in the car on the way home and Anne was even able to carry him to his room and put him to bed.  It was 10 p.m., Bobby woke and found Anne watching the news.  They both watched in silence as the tandem glider carrying Bobby swooped through the skies opening the airshow.  Then Bobby's full face shot with Bobby answering the reporters questions.  After the news report was over Anne turned and commented absently, "long day huh..."?  Bobby was already making a peanut butter and jam sandwich but he still agreed that, "YES, this was one long day and thank-you!"
     Bobby sat on the edge of the bed eating his sandwich and holding his own PPP-1, tomorrow they would fly!  Bobby studied his plane intently, elevators-rudders-flaperons, this plane had it all.  Bobby set his plane down, popped the last of his sandwich in his mouth and turned off the light almost all in the same motion.  The sooner to sleep, the sooner to fly!  Bobby didn't notice that he had dripped some jam on the world's best paper airplane, the PPP-1.