It didn’t matterhow often airplanes were cleaned. When they opened for the first flight of the day, there was always a stale stench I hated. Another week, another round of flights. I had been called in to work this morning on a whim because there were several high-profile people traveling that morning on the red eye. I adjusted my uniform and applied my red lipstick, just as I would for an afternoon or evening flight. I tightened my neck scarf just right, exhaled a quick deep breath, and headed out to give my spill before takeoff. I stood, poised and professional, as always, at the front of the cabin. Eyes forward, not looking at anyone in particular, I began.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Ascend Airlines, flight 0269 with non-stop service from Atlanta, Georgia, toMiami, Florida. Thank you for flying with us today. At this time, please make sure your seatbelt is fastened, your seat and table are in the upright and locked position, and all carry-on items are properly stowed. We’ll be getting underway soon. Sit back and relax. We are happy to have you flying with us today.”
Whenever I gave the flight instructions and welcome, I focused on the exit sign at the very back of the cabin so I could get through my talk with no hiccups. I had done this enough times to know that if I spent too much time looking at the passengers, I would miss something important, and I would not let that happen. I took way too much pride in my position to miss anything.
Quickly scanning the cabin, I turned to my right to grab the emergency items for the flight from my assistant flight attendant so I could continue my talk and show how the items should be used in case of an emergency. Sometimes, I couldn’t believe this was my life. I had worked my way up to lead flight attendant in a matter of three years, and I didn’t regret a single part of it. I knew when I graduated high school, I didn’t want to attend college, but I still wanted to make a great living and have a career that I could be proud of.
I worked in designer retail and designer retail management for a few years before I even thought of becoming a flight attendant. I vividly remembered the afternoon I was in the store, working the floor, and two women came in. They had on their flight attendant uniforms and were giddy as could be. They both bought designer bags and went on with their day as if it was nothing. We briefly chatted as I rang them up, and one suggested I apply, and the rest was history. I went home that same evening and applied to be a flight attendant. Within a week, I was called back for an interview, and it was up from there. The last few years, I had spent a lot of time discoveringwho I was and learning everything I could so I could continue to move up.
As I finished the flight welcome and instructions, my friend Chanel, who was also an assistant lead flight attendant, and I took our seats and put our seatbelts on. Once seated, we both sighed with relief, looked at each other, and smiled.
“It never gets old, right?” I asked her.
“Girl, no. I swear, I get an adrenaline rush every time we get up there to talk. It’s a surreal feeling. We are blessed, girlfriend.”
“That, we are.” We gave each other a quick high five as the airplane ascended.
“Up for a little shopping once we land?”
“As much as I want to, I’mma sit my ass down somewhere and rest, pooh. This is my fourth flight this week, and it’s only Thursday morning. I’m tired.” I chuckled.
“Shit, you been on the move.
“Tell me about it, but you should treat yourself. Don’t let me stop you, baby boo.” I considered Chanel my friend and baby sister.
“Oh, trust me. I am. I’m about to get my Miami man on the line now.” She pulled her phone out of her small purse.
“You are a trip, you know that, right?” I was one to talk. I usually had a man to call wherever I landed, but lately, I had been tired of it. Texting and the bullshit small talk conversations that went nowhere had gotten old for me. See, I had been doing what she was doing currently for a couple of years. The last man I let in my space seriously wanted nothing more than to take care of me. Love and real feelings was something that was not even on the table with him. Being who I was, I was fine with it as long as I was being taken care of and had my space.
“I’m just saying. I learned from you. I know you have someone lined up when we land. That’s probably why you aren’t going shopping with me.” She winked, and I couldn’t doanything but laugh because I had for sure taught her how to market herself and strike up conversation in a way that any man she laid her eyes on would swoon over her and eat out of the palm of her hands, just like it was with me.
“Girl, I’m going to this hotel room alone. I’m good on men right now. Lately, they been aggy to me.”
“Let them be aggy while they break the bank for you,” she teased.
“Trust and believe, this account is funded. I guess I’m just in a different space right now.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I want a man, but right now, I’m focused on making sure I’m straight without one and not having one just for the sake of it, you know?” Deep down, I knew exactly what I wanted. There was a deep yearning for love that I knew eventually would need to be tended to.
“Yeah, I get it, but still.” Chanel shrugged.
“You just make sure you’re enjoying yourself and your twenties, lil’ mama, and staying safe.”
“Yes, ma’am. You know I am.”
“Our next flight together, I promise we’ll have a full on girls’ day. You down?”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice.”
I sat back and took a deep breath as we reached cruising altitude. No lie, I was beyond exhausted, and I couldn’t wait to get to the hotel in South Beach and turn my phone completely off for a few hours. Because this would be a quick turnaround trip, I was only set to be there for a whopping twenty-four hours. That, of course, left little room for anything, but best believe I would treat myself to the best and finest once we landed.
As soon as I received the call about the flight I was on, I quickly booked a deep-tissue massage at the spa right by the boutique hotel I was staying at. Next, I would get a facial to lendsome care to this skin that I was determined to keep glowing. My dark-brown hair had been freshly cut into long layers and silk-pressed, so I didn’t need to get anything done to it. Lastly, I would treat myself to dinner at one of the best fine-dining restaurants in South Beach.
I only turned the shopping trip down because I was in dire need of some alone time and the freedom to do whatever the hell I wanted without being tied down to a schedule, even a loose one. I just wanted to land, frolic about, and take care of myself. Now that I thought about it, I had never enjoyed being tied down to a schedule or anything of the like, which was why I loved this career so much. They could call me whenever, and I would go. Being able to hop on a flight to another city or destination had been a dream that I did not take for granted. Having someone to share it with would’ve been nice, but for that time, I enjoyed all of that alone.
The last man I’d given my energy to put a bad taste in my mouth. He was older and very attractive. He loved to spend on me, and in return, he only wanted my company… until he didn’t. We had a very clear understanding, or so I thought. When we began communicating, it was made clear that I was not looking for anything long-term, and neither was he; our interactions and exchanges could only go as far as my being arm candy with a kiss here or there.
