• The Last Flight
    The journal of William Gold

    William was born to fly. He is one of 4 generations in his family to become a pilot. He was born just outside of Nashville, TN. He was born not in a hospital, but on an airplane. That day his mother said, “Well we know what he’s going to be.” He fell in love with flying at such a young age. As a child, he worked on planes with his dad. As a teenager, he got his pilot license, and has even participated in at least 10 air shows. He’s flown over the Himalayas, flown around the Statue of Liberty, flown to Europe, even braved a hurricane; but his next feat, was the most dangerous of them all. He was going to fly right threw the Bermuda Triangle. Many rumors flew around about the Bermuda Triangle. He was going to find out for himself and real soon.
    The alarm blared in his ears, as he groaned. He looked at the clock. 7:31. He was at the Nashville Airport, staying in a special bunk, just a little ways from the main airport. He got up and rubbed his eyes, and jumped in the shower. He let the warm water hit his rough worn body. Images flashed in his head. The worst, was watching his friend die right before his eyes. His friend died at 17. The happiest, was watching both of his children being born, and holding them. He smiled and got out, and put his gear on. He slid on his army style pants, put on a regular white t-shirt., then his jacket. He put on his class ring. Go warriors he thought. He slipped on his wedding ring. He smiled at it. He looked over to a rack. On the rack, hung a silver cross necklace, which had wings hanging by extra chains. He grabbed his boots and slid those on. He grabbed his messenger bag by the door and a small journal. He opened the door, as the light of the sun hit him like a wave of heat. He put on his shades then headed towards the main airport.
    As he walked by, the janitor waved at him. William smiled and waved back. Everyone was so nice to him here. They were like a family to him. Still, he misses his real family. His mom and dad, his wife and children, last but not least, his dog, Navi. He only got to see them every now and then, not as much as he wanted though. His son, Jake, was on the baseball team. William has never been able to go to any of the games. His daughter, Kelly, was a cheerleader, and going through that phase of her first heartbreak. He called her and talked to her about it. He couldn’t hold her close or comfort her like he wanted to though. Then there was his wife, the one he loved more than anything, Mary. They met and dated in high school and after college, they got married. He almost began to cry.
    He was soon in view of his airplane. On the side was a name in black paint. It read “Mother Mary”. He walked closer and unlatched the door and put his stuff inside, and did his usual checking. He made sure everything was secure, that there was plenty of fuel, and made sure nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything seemed good. He got back inside and put on his head seat and put the keys in and started it up. The engine of the plane began to roar to life. He saw the pictures on his dashboard. There were pictures of him and his dad, him and Mary, Mary and the kids, Kelly in her uniform, Jake in his with bat in hand, his dog, then his best friend, before he died. Then he looked over to his right and there in the copilots seat was an old torn bible. He held on to his cross and said a small prayer.
    “Dear Lord, I thank you for the many blessings you have given me and my family. Keep them safe and keep me safe as I begin my journey. I know if something should happen, I know where I will go. If something does happen, have a seat of wings ready for me. Be with my parents. In your son’s holy and most precious name I pray, Amen.”
    A voice breaks his silent trance, “Having a last minute sermon Will?”
    “Oh, um Control this is the Mother Mary, ready to begin my journey, am I clear for takeoff?”
    “You know you don’t have to be so formal Will.”
    “Old habits die hard Harold, you should know that you old dinosaur.”
    Harold lets out a strong laugh, “You’re pretty close to being one. You’re clear for takeoff Will. Be careful, and come home, I don’t want to be the one to tell Mary and the kids.”
    “I always do Harold.” He smiled and got ready for takeoff. He pushed the throttle forward and began to navigate onto the runway. He followed it all the way. He picked up speed, as he came closer and closer to the end of the runway. His wheels began to leave the ground, it was time. He pulled up just right and was in the air. The takeoff is always the hardest part in flying. So was the landing, then the ground was next.

    He was close to his destination; he drew a good long breath. It might be his last. As soon as he entered the Bermuda Triangle, his navigation system went completely crazy. His wind shield wipers went on and off and lights were blinking on and off. Then there came the storm to end all storms. The wind blew hard, throwing him and his plane all over the sky. He navigated out of it, and was flying normal again. Then a bolt of lightning struck one of his winds, sending him into a tailspin. He couldn’t get out of it. His experience came into action, as he looked all over the waters. What was he looking for? Of course, land. He spotted an island to his left, and straight towards it. He was going too fast. He closed his eyes, hoping and praying he hit the island.

    He forced his eyes open, and looked around. He was alive. He made it to the island. He stepped out and looked around him. He saw parts of other planes, and skeletons of other pilots. The rumors were never proven. No one survived long enough to tell anyone. He went back to the plane and sat down and began to think. A thought came alive in his mind. What if I leave a journal behind, so if someone crashes here, they can survive and find a way off this island? He ran inside the plane and grabbed the blank journal, and began writing:

    Journal Entry #1
    If you’re reading this journal, my heart goes out to you and your family. My name is William Gold. I am a pilot. I am leaving this journal behind so that whoever reads it may see their family again. First thing you must do is to get to a shelter or make one. Luckily my plane is still partly intact so you may use this as your shelter. I will scout the island out some more tomorrow. Right now, I need rest. Remember this; you can do anything, with a little help.
    Good night.


    Journal Entry #2
    I woke up early this morning to scope out the island. Pineapple is abundant here, so are many other fruits. There is a fruit tree about a mile from the plane; I made a way to get to the tree. Anyone can use it now. There is a fishing pole I made. Just take some rope from your plane, if you have any and a large stick or metal pole. I made some hooks, they are in the bag I have. There is plenty of bait. I tried the radio, I got no signal whatsoever. My GPS won’t work, my cell phone work, not even my laptop. It gets pretty boring here. Running is a good thing; it keeps you focused and takes up time. I also left a deck of playing card, in case you like cards. There is a bible in the copilot’s seat. I always find that in your darkest hour, reading the bible gives you some kind of hope. If you do not read the bible that is fin. Don’t burn it, leave it for someone else. There is a guitar and pick, maybe you can try and play it, music seems to speak to some people.
    The sunset is so beautiful. It hits the water just right, splitting the end of the hearth and the beginning of heaven. Pictures of family and friends help as well.
    Well I must go, I will write soon.
    Good night.

    Journal Entry #3
    Its day 3 and I can feel my spirit dying. All hope is beginning to disappear. I wrote a little something, a song; maybe it might cheer you up. I never saw myself as a guitar player. I don’t have much to say today. I will write soon.
    Good night.
    Journal Entry #4
    Being stuck here has really made me think about a lot of so much. My friend died when he was only 17 and I could have stopped it. I was gambling, and I couldn’t pay. One day, a bullet came way. He took it, gave his life so I could live. The last words he said to me were “fly Will, fly away”, and I did. I ran, like a coward. I will miss my father terribly. Last spring he was diagnosed with lung, heart, and brain cancer. His life is slowly ticking away, second by second. He keeps fighting. Always have and he always will. I wish I was as strong and brave as he is. I have spent my whole life, trying to make him proud of me. I will also miss my mother. She put up with me and my dad all the time. She let me marry Mary, luckily. I wish I could give her one last hug. I will miss my son, Jake. It disheartens me that I missed all of his baseball games and so many of his birthdays. He says he understands, but I know it hurts him not to see me cheer him on or watch him grow older. I wish I could stand beside him when he gets married. I did all I could to teach him the right things to do. He may not be a pilot, but I will be proud of any dream he chases. I will miss my daughter, Kelly. I know one day she will find a man that will love her and protect her just like I do. I wish I could be there to escort her to prom, Jake will instead. I wish I could walk her down the aisle and give her away. I will miss my Marry, my one and true love, my high school sweetheart, and my angel. I still remember our first date. I parked my black 1991 Chevy truck in her driveway, and knocked on the door. She looked so beautiful n the black dress with a rose in her hair, with the smell vanilla surrounding her. I remember meeting her dad. He had every gun out ready to clean them. I was scared half to death. I remember that night getting into a fight with Bryan Dean, I whooped his butt, but I was still in some pain. That night we had our first kiss, then our second, and so on.
    Funny how you remember things so clearly, like they just happened yesterday. I must go again.
    Good night.

    Journal Entry #5
    I don’t have much time left on the island. I set one of the crashed planes on fire; the smoke from it should attract someone. In case this is my last entry, I want you to do me a small favor. When you finish reading the entries in this journal, I want you to add to it. Keep the hope of all the pilots alive; keep me alive by keeping this journal go. Put in things that have happened to you and things you have figured out that I didn’t. It would mean so much to me if you did this for me. I hope this journal has helped you out. Never forget what I said, and what happened to you on this island. Maybe I did something good for a change. This is your time. It’s your time fellow aviators. May God be with you, and good luck.
    Good bye.
    That was the last journal entry from William Gold. He was rescued by a cruise ship. He was on his way home, when a storm hit, and his body was lost at sea. It was found weeks later.
    The sky is dark on this day. William Gold, the pilot from Nashville, was lost at sea. The church was filled with so many people. His parents attended, their eyes blinded by tears. His father knelled before his son’s grave stone and laid down an old model airplane, William’s first model airplane. Williams’s mother left an old crushed up can of root beer, William loved root beer. Kelly left her ticket from prom in an envelope.

    “Thanks for coming to prom with me dad, I love you much.” She can’t help but to cry, as her brother comes beside her to comfort her. Jakes leaves a baseball, signed by all the people from Jakes baseball team.

    “We won state dad. From now on, you will never miss a game.”

    Harold drops to his knees, tries to hold his tears, but the pour out like a waterfall.

    “Will, you old dinosaur, I’m going to miss you. You were probably my 1st real friend. I will miss you so much. I will take care of Mary and the kids, just for you. Ask God if he can get me a set of wings for me.” He smiles, and leaves his pin he earned from flying in World War II.

    The band plays Time of My Life as Mary heads to William’s grave. She lays down a picture of them, standing in front of the Mother Mary.

    “I love you honey, we will always have the skies, and every time I look up in the sky, I will see you smiling back at me, watching over me, like the angel you really are. Enjoy your wings honey.”

    The graveyard lays quiet. In the graveyard are gravestones, and people who didn’t have the time to die. Under an old oak tree, stands a gravestone with wings. If you read the inscription, it will read:

    Here lies William H. Gold, father, husband, pilot, and devoted human being of the skies.
    He will always soar above the heavens, to the stars, and to the moon.
    He earned his wings
    We hope he enjoys the last flight of his life.


    The End