For a while, the day felt ordinary.
Then Clara Bennett, the senior flight attendant, appeared at the cockpit door with permission to enter.
Clara had worked with Elena for nearly three years. She was in her early fifties, had a warm voice, and possessed the rare ability to recognize when someone needed a conversation and when they needed silence.
She held two cups of coffee.
“Peace offering,” Clara announced.
Elena accepted one. “What have I done to deserve this?”
“Nothing. That’s the beauty of it.”
Clara handed Marcus his cup before looking back at Elena.
“And I have something else for you.”
She reached into her pocket and produced a folded paper napkin.
“One of our passengers asked me to give this to the captain.”
Elena looked confused.
“To me?”
“Unless we have another Captain Elena hiding in row twelve.”
Marcus smiled.
Elena carefully unfolded the napkin.
A child’s drawing covered nearly the entire surface. The airplane was enormous, with blue wings, a red tail, and a smiling sun in the corner. A rainbow stretched across the sky, and beneath the aircraft were several stick figures holding hands.
