Jordan's Angel

About the Book

Tom looked out his window to get a visual fix of his altitude and see if he was casting a shadow from the mid day sun. It was then that he saw the reflection in the glass that convinced him that he was becoming confused by the exhaustion that stress brings upon a pilot. He had been trained in this phenomenon although he had never experienced it. Tom looked deeper into the clouded reflection in the window and thought he saw something set down in the co-pilots seat. He knew it couldn’t be Alex, because he never heard her return to the cockpit. Just then he sensed a presence he couldn’t explain or deny.

Tom turned reluctantly to his right in an anticipation to be startled only to see a man setting in the co-pilots seat. Being abruptly startled he jumped in his seat only to be locked in by his seat belt. In terror he hollered, “ holy shit!”

At first Tom did not believe his eyes. He stared at the figure for what seemed to be an eternity. It was the figure of an airline pilot dressed in an old uniform staring out the windshield. Time began to stand still as uncontrollable fear began to overcome Tom. The aircraft appeared to be moving in slow motion. Any attempt Tom made to move was very labored. Soon the figure turned from his gaze out the windshield directly to Tom. At this a great feeling of peace came over Tom and he felt himself relax.

Tom recognized the figure as his friend John Beck. After regaining control of himself, Tom muttered, “ are you coming to take me with you?”

“ No!” Answered the figure across from Tom. “ You will never die in an airplane related accident. But there are things you must do now.”

Tom listened intently as he could only stare in amazement at his long since dead friend.

“ Do not make any right turns. The fire is at the rear fuel tanks and they have vapors in them. Don’t leave without Mrs. Lewis. Do this for me.” Said the figure.

The figure of John Beck took his gaze off Tom and returned it to the front window and said, “ you haven’t much time. Get down and get out. Leave no one behind. Good-bye my friend.” As Tom looked at John Beck his figure became faded. Once again becoming anxious Tom could only reach out and holler, “ stay…! Stay…! John, don’t go. Help me! John! John!”

With that John Beck was gone. Tom desperately reached, grabbed and screamed, but John Beck was gone and Tom was alone and afraid once again.

Deputy Sheriff Ansel Paige was about to call the Aerostook Community Mobile Home Park a successful evacuation when he inadvertently glanced off to his right and saw two residents looking off in the distance. As far as Paige could tell, they were directly under the burning jet as it entered the mobile home property. He knew he couldn’t get to them in time. He could only stand helplessly by and watch.

Aaron Garner and her seven-year-old daughter Meredith were standing by the fence arm in arm like a couple of school girl friends. Since the divorce they were inseparable as so many folks were in this area. Just trying to get by on what they had. They watched intently as the big jet rumbled overhead. Meredith, squeezing her mother’s hand tighter said, “ do you think there are little boys and girls on that plane, mommy?” “ I don’t know honey, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there were.” Replied Aaron. “ I hope Jesus takes very good care of everyone on there.”

“ He will, mommy.” Said Meredith. “ Just like Pastor Mills said he would.”

Turning around together as the jet flew past them Meredith said, “ maybe we should say a little prayer for them anyhow, mommy.”

As Deputy Paige drove up alongside the two ladies he found them on their knees. He exited his cruiser and joined them.