Note: I will fill things in as time goes on. I will put a list in here to help myself keep track of the stories. 

Friday:

Friday morning, Denver International Airport was a deserted shitshow. Due to very strong, hot winds roaring down the mountains, sporadic ground stops at the airport delayed flights and scared away passengers. That meant our original flight was delayed for several hours, at least. 

However, my dad was determined to get us on a much earlier flight that had also been delayed. We just had to rush to the gate agent to change to that flight. 

The moment I set my stuff on the conveyor belt to go through security, the security X-ray machine broke, forcing myself and other passengers to unload our unpacked bags onto another belt. From security, we boarded a cramped train to our terminal, then made a mad dash to our gate towards the very end of terminal C. 

At the gate, Dad and I asked the gate agent to change our flight to that earlier (yet still delayed) flight.

“Well, you’re in luck!” she smiled, “Lots of people cancelled today.”

“Really?” my dad nodded. 

“Yup.” the lady nodded, “My husband’s a pilot and flew in this morning telling me he’s never experienced turbulence as bad as this morning’s turbulence was in all his years of flying. It really scared him.”

I shot my dad a very obvious, fearful glare. 

“Ah, we’ll be fine.” my dad laughed, “It’ll be fun, like a roller-coaster ride.”

“That it will be!” the gate agent giggled, “Good luck! Here’s your tickets.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t have any time to decompress as my boarding group was announced right as I was handed my ticket. Hardly anyone else joined my dad and I onto the jetbridge and into the plane. 

“Let’s sit somewhere behind the wing.” I mumbled to my dad as I followed him onto the Boeing 737. 

“Why? So we will survive?” Dad mocked under his breath.

When I didn’t answer, Dad glanced back to see me staring at him with huge, fear-filled eyes. As a result, he himself fell quiet and chose a seat just a few rows away from the very back of the plane. 

To be continued...