A TRIP IN AN AEROPLANE

‘Good morning class’ Miss Isioma greeted the learners as she walked into the class after the usual morning assembly. ‘Good morning Miss Isioma’ the learners chorused excitedly. School was always very exciting for the learners in Miss Isioma’s class, Primary 2A. She was a very nice teacher. She treated the children very well and ensured that she carried every learner along. The parents and guardians who were very excited about the progress of their children and wards were also in love with her and always praised her performances. ‘How was your night?’ She asked as she went round exchanging pleasantries with the learners. ‘Our night was fine’, they answered. After the entry routines, she introduced the topic for the first subject of the day. ‘Jose, share the social studies note book’, she said as she directed Jose to the cupboard for their notes. Jose, the class prefect was always up and doing in the class. He was a learner with good leadership skills. He was always eager to carry out any task assigned to him. His class teacher nicknamed him ‘Quick Action’. The first subject of the day was Social studies. As a result of the ways Miss Isioma handled her class. The learners were always eager to know the topic of the day. After the lesson notes have been shared, she then introduced the subject and topic of the day. ‘Today, we are going to look at transportation’, she  said, watching to capture the attention of every learner in the class. ‘How many of you have travelled before’ she asked. Many of the children raised up their hands. ‘Yes Tega, where did you travel to?’ ‘Benin’ Tega answered ‘Faith’ I travelled to Lagos to see my uncle. ‘A boy this time, Ok Great, Miss Isioma said pointing to Great. ‘I travelled to Port Harcourt‘, Great responded. ‘All of you have done well. To travel from one place to another is what we refer to as transportation. So, transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another. Let us say it together, Transportation is ….’ This was repeated until the learners were able to memorize the definition. ‘Tega, when you travelled to Benin, what did you use?’ Miss Isioma asked. ‘We travelled in our daddy’s car’, Tega answered. ‘What about you Great?’ ‘We travelled in a bus’, Great said. ‘These are called means of transportation. What did I say?’ ‘Means of transportation,‘ the children responded excitedly. She thereafter listed the means of transport to include transportation by road, sea, rail and air. She went further to explain to the children that road transport involves the use of cars, buses, trucks etc. Rail transportation makes use of train. Sea transportation - ship and boats, while air transportation makes use of aeroplane and other forms of aircrafts.

 Daniel, who was really fascinated by the mention of aeroplane, was patiently waiting for question time in order to ask some questions that have been bothering him. He was always wondering whenever he sees aeroplane flying in the sky. He was surprised to hear from his teacher that, that tiny thing he often sees in the sky can carry as much as two hundred people. ‘Where would all this people sit?’ he thought. The explanation from Miss Isioma was not satisfactory. ‘Miss Isioma, do aeroplanes have wings as birds?’ Jose asked. ‘Yes, some of them do’ she replied. The questions that day centred around aeroplane and train. All the children have seen aeroplane fly in the sky but none of them had been to the airport. However , train was really strange to them. It was only on pictures and on television they have seen trains. On getting home, Daniel told his father everything they learnt in school for the day. This was actually his usual way of getting his father’s attention. Daniel was an enthusiastic child and the father loved him because of his inquisitiveness. He always wanted to know. Mr Tim, Daniel’s father was always fond of his son. An Engineer by profession, he always tried to answer most of Daniel’s questions and helped him in school’s work. ‘Daddy, my teacher taught us air transportation today’. Daniel said. ‘Please daddy, I want to stop the aeroplane that used to pass here so that it can carry us to Lagos to see Aunty Grace’ he said staring vacantly at the father. The father laughed at his son’s demand. When he finally stopped, he explained to him that aeroplane cannot stop the way other vehicles stop to carry passengers. He told him that aeroplanes only takeoff and lands in airports. He thereafter promised to take Daniel to Lagos using aeroplane. The news of travelling to Lagos in an aeroplane excited Daniel. He will not only go to the airport to see aeroplanes but will enter inside and fly in the sky. He tried to imagine how the experience would look like. On getting to school the following day, he broadcasted to anybody who cared to listen about his intending trip to Lagos in an aeroplane. He told his friend Jose that he would pass by their roof in order to wave at him on his way to Lagos. His friends were really jealous of him. This made them to bombard their parents with the idea of traveling in an aeroplane to see their relatives in different part of the world. Travelling to Lagos in an aeroplane was based on the condition that he comes first in the class. Mr. Tim, Daniel’s father, always encouraged the children to do well in school. Last term, he took them to a popular departmental store for coming top in their various classes. Blessing, his younger sister came top in their class while Daniel was beaten to the third position by Jose and Tare. His daddy admonished him to be serious with his studies in order to come top of his class just like the younger sister. The father reiterated his earlier admonition and promised to take them to Lagos in an aeroplane if they come top of their classes. Daniel knew that beating Jose was not going to be easy. Any slip can cost him his trip. He therefore decided to work very hard in order to come top of the class so as to fulfill his own part of the bargain. His positive attitude towards his studies changed drastically. His mother Grace, was quicked to notice this attitude. He was no longer forced to do his homework. His studies became regular and thorough. ‘Your son has really changed. He now takes his studies very seriously’ Grace, Daniel’s mother, said to her husband who was watching his favourite programme on television in the living room.           

‘I promised to take him to Lagos if he comes first in his class’ Tim replied. ‘But he has been to Lagos before, what is so special about Lagos this time around’ Grace querried. Tim informed her, he had promised to take him and his sister to Lagos by air if they come top of their classes. His wife was surprised that he made that kind of promise to the children. To her, it would amount to waste of money traveling to Lagos by air. She tried to discourage him. ‘I have made a promise to them. It is now left for them to fulfill their own side’ he said and continued watching his favorite program. Daniel did well in his continuous assessment test except for his mathematics and vocational aptitude. He was not happy when he saw his scores. Any further slip could cost him the opportunity of travelling to Lagos by air. When he told his father about the lapses, he promised to revise with him during his examination. Examination had come and gone. Luckily the father who was on his vacation during the period revised with them throughout the examination. Daniel did all his best and listened to instructions throughout the examination period. He was now waiting for his results hoping to come top of his class. He was really apprehensive. He has told everyone in his class and his friends in church that he would be traveling to Lagos during the long holiday by air. He equally knew that if he fail to meet his father’s demand, he would miss the opportunity. Vacation day was always seen as judgement day. The assembly bell was rang at about 12 noon. Learners immediately assembled at the assembly ground for the last meeting of the term. This assembly was usually used for prayers and singing. Instructions and advice were given as the learners proceed for holidays. The highlight of the day was the announcement of terminal results by sectional heads. Parent and guardians were always around to cheer their children up as they were called out to be celebrated by others. The first three of each class were usually called out.

 Daniel was apprehensive. He did not have any clue of his performance as the teachers were under strict instruction to keep computation of results from learners. Though in all standards, he did well in the entire examinations. He did not find any question difficult because of the thorough revisions he did throughout the examination period. The reading of the result usually started with the Nursery. After the usual admonition by the proprietress, the head teacher of the Nursery section was called upon to read out the names of the first three learners in each of the Nursery classes. It was really an exciting moment. The children were applauded as they were called out by the Head teacher. The parents around jumped up as they watched their children walked up to collect their prizes for their outstanding performances for the term.   Daniel was praying silently in his heart when the head of the Primary section stepped out to read out the first three from the Primary section starting with primary one. ‘The first position for primary two goes to Jose Sunday’. The head teacher Mr. Michael announced. Daniel started weeping profusely. He was really disappointed that he couldn’t achieve his dream of coming first in the class. The father, Mr. Tim who was there to witness the ceremony was equally disappointed that his son did not come first. He was however consoled that his daughter took first in KG 2. This did not come to him as a surprise. His daughter was really intelligent and can only be beaten by a genius. Mr. Michael was later approached by Miss Isioma, Daniel’s class teacher to explain the result to him. ‘We are really sorry’ Mr. Michael said, apologizing to the crowd after discussing with Miss Isioma. ‘Two pupils actually came first in this class. Let us clap for them. He continued. ‘The next person is Daniel Timothy. Let’s clap for him. Daniel was now enlivened. The father walked  up to him and gave him a warm embrace. It was really an exciting time. The hard work of Daniel had paid off. He has fulfilled his own side of the bargain. It was now his father’s turn. The holiday was just three weeks. Tim had decided to spend the first one week at home, using the opportunity to prepare for their trip to Lagos and the last one week at home in order to get the children ready for resumption. Mrs. Tim, Grace was not in support of the trip to Lagos by air. She saw it as waste of money. She made every attempt to convince the husband to forego the idea but that did not pull through. Mr Tim was a man of integrity. He rarely renege on his promise. To him, taking Daniel and Blessing to Lagos by air was never a waste of money. ‘Travelling is part of education’ He had told the wife repeatedly. The trip was fixed for Tuesday, more than a week after vacation. Mr. Tim was familiar with air transportation. However, this is the first time he will be using his money to travel by air. All the previous journeys he had made by air were always sponsored by his company. As a senior staff, he was always sent on seminars and workshops to different part of the world and on the job training to Europe. The flight tickets for himself and his two children were booked for by a travelling agent three days earlier. When Daniel and Blessing learnt about this, they became apprehensive and anxious. They started counting days and hours to the appointed day. Their night sleep was now irregular, waking intermittently to look at the clock in their room. Tuesday seems like forever to Daniel. He complained to Blessing about the delay and asked why Tuesday was taking time to arrive. Before then, their father had promised to take them around the airport and show them different places there. The flight was intended to take off by 12.00 noon. They were driven to the airport by Grace who quickly returned home in order to put the house in order.

 The airport was very beautiful. It was the first time Blessing and Daniel entered an airport. They were surprised to meet many people there. People were moving to and fro. Some with either many or few luggages while others with nothing. The airport was a beehive of activity. Mr. Tim first took them to the waiting hall where passengers waited for their flight. They were formally cleared to travel but they still had about two hours to spend. He spoke with one of the flight controller who promised to take them around the airport in order for them to see some of the facilities. They were first taken to the tarmac where they had the opportunity to touch an aeroplane for the first time.

 ‘Daddy, the plane is very big. How come only smaller ones always passed our roof?’ Blessing asked. She was really surprised by the size of the plane. The air controller informed them that the plane can carry over one hundred passengers. ‘They are usually smaller when they are far up in the sky Mr. Tim explained.

 They were later taken to the hangar where they saw planes parked for repairs. The controller told them that hangers are used for the maintenance of planes to always put them in good shapes and conditions.                                                    The tour around the airport took them about thirty minutes. They thereafter returned to the lounge to take some snacks. ‘Daddy, I need ice cream and popcorn’, Daniel said as they stepped into the fast food eatery at the airport. Mr. Tim had promised to make the trip a memorable one for them. He bought them everything they requested for. At exactly twelve noon, they were invited into their plane. The interior was a beauty to behold. Young ladies were moving around assisting the passengers. The father told them that the ladies were called air hostesses. He explained some of their functions to them to include attending to passengers needs throughout the trip.                                                  

 

 Before the plane finally taxied away, they were taken to the cockpit where they met the pilot and co-pilot. It was really an exciting time.                                                                                 As soon as everything was set, it was announced to the passengers that the plane was about to take off. Everybody was asked to fasten his or her seat belt. Few minutes after the announcement, the plane began to taxi away slowly on the runway. The speed was increasing gradually until it finally took off into the sky. At first, Daniel and Blessing were extremely excited. But as the plane increased its speed, their excitement turned into fear. Mr. Tim was observing them. He was in an advantaged position since his seat was between Daniel and Blessing. He motioned to them to be calm. They nodded in affirmation, though extremely uncomfortable. However, as the plane ascended into the sky, Blessing began to puke. The father called the attention of one of the air hostesses to take care of her. She was taken into the convenience of the plane where she was thoroughly cleaned up. When she returned, she felt ashamed of herself and thought she had disappointed her dad. The father explained to her that such incident was very common with travellers especially first time travellers. ‘How come Daniel did not vomit? She asked. ‘Everybody can’t respond the same way to sudden situations’, the father replied. As the plane steadied in the sky, they were asked to loosen their seat belt, for those who wished to. Passengers were now more relaxed. They engaged themselves in different activities. Some were reading newspaper, other listening to music. Few got up intermittently to ease themselves. ‘Daddy, when are we going to arrive Lagos’? Daniel asked. ‘The flight is just one hour flight. We are going to be on air for just one hour. Mr. Tim responded. He explained to them that travelling by road from Warri to Lagos would take up to seven hours especially with the poor conditions of the roads. ‘My teacher said air transportation is the fastest means of transportation’ Daniel said. ‘That was before the advent of electric train. What would have taken us seven hours by road is going to last just one hour’. He concluded. The plane touched down at local wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at exactly twenty minutes past one o’clock. After the usual airport protocols, the passengers disembarked to the waiting arms of their friends and well-wishers.                                                              

 Mr. Tim’s elder sister was waiting for them at the airport. She was accompanied by her three children. They were really happy to reunite after over two years. Immediately they sighted Mr. Tim and the children, they ran to embrace them and took their luggage to the car. They drove for over two hours before they arrived home. ‘Blessing, how was your journey? I hope you enjoyed yourself’? Aunty Stella asked as they alighted from the car. The journey from the airport to the house was really hectic. There were lots of traffic jams on the road. These were regular occurrences on Lagos roads. Blessing had wished the aeroplane had carried them to their aunt’s home. By and large, it was a very beautiful trip to Lagos. They were equally sure they will have the same experience on their way back. The holiday was now over. Daniel and Blessing had returned to school. Daniel was excited to return to school after his holiday. He informed Miss Isioma about his trip to Lagos by air. The classmates were inundated with his experiences in an aeroplane. They went home everyday asking their parents to take them to see their relatives in an aeroplane. The pressure was so much on the parents that they came to meet Miss Isioma on how to solve the children’s quest of travelling in an aeroplane. She actually did not know how to be of help to the parents. At first, she appealed to the children to exercise patience with their parents and give them time to plan their own trips. The appeal however did not yield any result. The children wanted to travel in an aeroplane and nothing short of that would appeal to them. As more parents were coming, the pressure on Miss Isioma became more. She decided to confide with the proprietress on the way forward. ‘We would take them on excursion tour to the airport’, the proprietress said as soon as Miss Isioma finished narrating the problem. ‘I think that is a nice idea, ma’ Isioma said. ‘Get the  parents informed and let me have the feedback’, The proprietress ordered. ‘Ok madam, I will do just that’ Isioma said as she walked out of the office. The children were excited when the idea of going on an excursion to the airport was communicated to them. A week after the announcement, all of them have paid their excursion fee. The parents were now relived of the pressure of taking their children to God knows where in an aeroplane. The excursion tour was really very exciting. The children had the opportunity to touch and even enter an aeroplane. They were taken around the airport  by one of the manager Mr. Ejiro Ogaga. He showed them the departure lounge, canteen, tarmac, hanger and the runway. Arrangement was made for the pilot to fly them for fifteen minutes. At the end of the excursion tour, every learner in Miss Isioma’s class did not only know about air transportation but travelled in an aeroplane. Their teacher told them to make notes on their trip and submit it the following week. To her, all that started well ended well.