Frankie Fay Finklea's Frantic Final Flight

Sometimes, well-intentioned plans that are expected to entertain other people turn out to do just the opposite for some of them. Such was the day when Frankie Fay Finklea of Faraway Forest, Florida, took her first ride in an airplane. Frankie hated the sight of airplanes, and never would she be so foolish as to ride in one of them. Just the thought of doing so terrified her. Her dad, Mr. Fred Finklea, knew about his daughter’s fear and decided to do something about it. He believed that doings things that are feared ends the fear.

Mr. Finklea’s best friend, Fabio “Flyboy” Flint, was an expert pilot and owned a beautiful bright yellow Piper Cub, a small airplane with only two seats, one behind the other, that was used for training World War II pilots, and its safety record is unmatched. On warm days, the doors on the right side, hinged at the top and bottom, can be left open during flight. When Mr. Finklea called Flyboy, he got welcome news. “Well, this would be a great day for Frankie Fay’s first flight,” Flyboy said. “I am taking a bunch of kids for plane rides.”

All of the children were excited, but nobody wanted to fly first. Finally, Mandy Mae Finklea, Frankie Fay’s sister, volunteered, but not before poking her tongue at her sister as if to say, “Look at me — I am brave; you aren’t.” After Flyboy secured the front seat’s safety harness around the little girl, Mr. Finklea pulled the propeller to crank the engine. The little airplane took off, made a gentle turn, and a few feet above the airstrip, passed in front of the waiting kids so the excited child could wave and yell at her friends.

Following this routine, the two adults made sure every kid got a plane ride, all but one: Frankie Fay, who refused, but knowing the other kids would tease her, she finally allowed herself to be strapped in the front seat and sat frozen in fright, trying not to let her friends see that she was. Flyboy throttled the engine and began the takeoff roll, but Frankie Fay panicked when the wheels were inches from the ground. Screaming and leaning out of the open door, she intended to jump before the airplane climbed higher.

A pilot’s first duty is to focus on flying the airplane, regardless of distractions, but Flyboy was struggling with Frankie Fay. Something had to be done quickly, so he did what pilots should never do — made a steep turn close to the ground and landed downwind.

As soon as the wheels touched, he shut down the engine — but not before calamity evolved into a catastrophe: Having freed herself from the safety harness, Frankie Fay crouched to jump out. The frustrated pilot grasped the screaming, wriggling girl, waited until the aircraft rolled to a stop, and lowered the child to the ground. That was her first and last airplane ride: Frankie Fay’s frantic final flight.

NOTE: Jimmy Reed is a retired college professor and author of several books. This story is from his latest, a children’s book entitled FROM A TO Z, TO YOU FROM ME. Each story in the book maximizes the use of an alphabetical letter, enhanced by alliteration and assonance. The book is available on Amazon, or can be purchased directly from the author. His email address is jimmycecilreedjr@gmail.com.

Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.

Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).