Chapter 2

The Best Class

Chapter 2

When Talan woke up, there was sunshine pouring through the plane’s small windows. More light flooded through from the plane’s missing tail. Talan raised his head from the table that folded down from the back of the seat in front of him. His seatbelt was still strapped securely about his middle. With the plane slanted forward the seat belt held him in place, and the tray had given him a place to rest his head. From outside, he could hear the slap of the ocean waves as they hit the now ruined plane.

____Talan looked around. Beside him, __Braxten was sleeping restlessly. He quietly pushed the tray table back and locked it into place. He unsnapped the seat belt and pulled himself up into the aisle. Sitting in the opening, where the back of the plane used to be, was ___Brooke. She was looking out and seemed to be searching for something. Carefully, __Talan made his way up the slanted aisle.

__Brooke turned when he got near. “Hi,” she said. “It’s about time somebody woke up.”

“Have you been up long?” asked __Talan.

“Actually, I haven’t slept,” __Brooke replied. “I was too terrified. Besides, I figured somebody had better stay awake in case the plane tore loose from whatever it’s stuck on and started to sink.”

“I’m surprised any of us slept,” said __Talan. “What were you looking for?”

__Brooke bowed her head. “I was hoping that somehow I’d find __Mr. Anderson. I’m afraid he’s gone.”

__Talan gave a heavy sigh and tried to think of something comforting to say.

“I couldn’t see his body anywhere,” __Brooke continued. “But I don’t see how anyone could have survived that explosion. It tore the whole rear of the plane off.”

__Brooke’s shoulders began to shake and Talan heard a soft sob.

“He did have the life raft when he fell,” __Talan said. But he knew his voice didn’t sound convincing.

“Any sign of __Mr. Anderson?” It was __Braxten talking. __Talan turned to see him and the other children coming up the aisle or peering out of the windows.

__Brooke answered, her voice now under control. “He’s gone. I’m sure he’s probably dead.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Then Doug began to shout. “Well, what are we going to do? We’re lost! The plane’s going to sink! We’ll all drown!”

Doug began to run up the aisle toward __Brooke. He tripped over a blanket and would have fallen, but __Braxten caught him.

“Relax, Doug.” __Braxten spoke firmly, but kindly. “We’re okay. If the plane were going to sink, it would have done so by now.”

Doug was shaking and crying. Braxten put his arm around his shoulder and helped him into one of the seats.

“It’s alright, Doug. The storm’s over.” __Braxten turned and shouted to __Brooke. “How does the weather look?”

“There’s still a little wind,” she replied. “But the waves aren’t so rough that we can’t make it to land.”

“What land? There’s no land. We’re stuck in the middle of the ocean,” wailed Doug.

“We may be in the middle of the ocean,” said __Brooke. She pointed out through the rear of the plane. “But that sure looks like land to me.”

The rest of the class crowded around __Brooke. They were careful, because the end of the plane was sticking up about twenty feet above the waves. There, about a half mile away, was land. They could see tall, green topped, palm trees coming down to a wide sandy beach. Behind the trees they could see low hills.

“We’re safe!” exclaimed someone.

“Not yet,” said __Camron. We’ve got to get over there. That’s a long swim and I happen to know that some members of our class aren’t very strong swimmers.”

“Good thinking, __Camron,” _Braxten commented. “We’ve got to do some thinking.” Just then the plane gave a groan and started to move. Everyone grabbed something to hold on to as the plane shuddered and dropped down a few feet.

“We’re going to drown,” shouted Doug.

“No we’re not,” said __Camron. “The tide is going down. That will affect the plane. One thing’s for sure though. We’ve got to get out of here.”