Amazed - Chapter 5

Saturday November 14th 2002
The hangar where Harm keeps Sarah

Wrapped up in big coats, Harm and May get ready for a walk in the sky. Harm opens the door of the hangar and May discovers Sarah with bright eyes.

May - A Stearman. She's beautiful! I only saw one in a museum before.

Harm - And still flying! Gramps bought her at the end of the thirties, and he died only a few years later. Dad never used her much. When I was a kid, she was in a barn at Grams, under a cover. Dad had promised me we would fix it together, but well... So I begun to work on her when I was about fifteen. During the holidays I spent here with your mom, I kept running on her nerves with my planes. I use to drag her in the barn and while she was sitting on a bundle of straw with a book, I was digging into the engine. We had a record player and we were listening to rock. Good for her she wasn't in a state to fly, or I would have taken her up!

May - It has always been my dream to fly. When I was a little girl, I even thought I was a bird.

Harm - That's where Birdie come from?

May - Yeah. I was about three. We were living at Aunt May's, my room was on the second floor and the window was overlooking the backyard. There was this huge tree not far and all through spring and summer, I was seeing birds nesting. I remember very well that particular day. Mom was downstairs, cooking I think. I was kneeling on the bench under the open window and I was looking at birds. And there was a couple of hummingbirds that were flying around the tree. I found them fascinating. Suddenly I felt like joining them, flying with them, they looked so... free. So I went on the roof. Mom had never forbidden me to go there, or I would have had a second thought. I guess she never had the idea I could do that. Anyway, I was sitting on the tiles, and I glided to the edge. I was not dizzy or anything. And I stood up, I must have say something to the hummingbirds like 'Wait for me, I'm coming!', I spread my arms and I jumped.

Harm - Really?

May - Really! I broke my leg. And the weirdest thing about that is I don't remember the physical pain. I just recall I was very disappointed to have been unable to fly. And the first thing I asked Mom when she found me was 'Why can't I fly?'. She just had the scare of her life and she burst out laughing when she heard me. She also made me promise no to go one the roof again. And since that day, every time I was about to doing something too dangerous, she called me Birdie to remind me of my fall.

Harm - Do you think telling me that story would reassure me? Are you sure I can take you up?

May - Don't worry! Now, if I want to fly, I take a plane!

They check Sarah, the incident with the poachers still fresh in Harm's memory and he tells the story to his daughter who shudders retrospectively. When all is ready, they open the hangar, roll Sarah on the runway and take off. Soon, Harm gives the stick to May and they spend a few hours flying in turn. When they land, May jumps at Harm's neck and hold him tight. They hug with joy and Harm makes her swirl round like a little girl.

May - You know, I love having you for a dad! If you could decide yourself, you would be a wonderful dad!

Harm - But who do you want me to make kids with?

And saying that, Harm thinks of the deal he made with Mac and its deadline each day closer.

May throws him a make-me-believe-that look.

May - Dad... Don't tell me you never thought about having babies with her, I won't believe you.

Harm - I don't know what you're talking about.

May sighs deeply.

May - I don't know if you're blind or stupid, but either way you're a fool.

Harm gives her an offended look.

Harm - Is that the way a child talks to her father?

May smirks without answering.

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Sunday November 17th 2002
Airport departure hall

May finishes her luggage checking. Then she turns to Harm, standing nearby.

Harm - So you're leaving!

May - Yeah, I must be at the base before midnight, so it's time for me to go!

Harm - You can't leave the Academy for Thanksgiving, can you?

May - No, but I'm going to the Patterson. You'll have to meet them, they're very nice.

Harm - So we could meet for Christmas.

May - Sure thing. I have almost a month leave. I will be delighted to see you again.

Harm – I usually stay in Washington for Christmas night and I leave for the farm the morning of the twenty-fifth. Would you like to stay with me, or would you rather go to the farm the whole leave?

May - Well, I don't know. I'll think about it. We have a little time to see.

The call for May's plane boarding is heard

May - Well, I think it's time.

Harm - Yes. Take care of you.

May - You too, dad.

Harm and May hug tenderly. She is almost crying.

May - Good bye, dad.

Harm - Good bye my daughter.

None of them see AJ standing against a pillar, looking at May leaving.