Chapter Three: Flight Black Betty:

Joe walked up to the plane with her jaw dropped. She turned to Matthieu with wide eyes.

“Is this for real?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Wow! Can we really fly her?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re kidding?” she asked. Matthieu shook his head.

“Can we fly her right now?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. Joe struggled to say something else. Matthieu watched as the excited began to unfold within the child. He drew out his mini-radio from his jacket.

“We’re ready for you,” he said on the line.

“Okay,” a man said of the other line.

“Copy that!” another man said. Matthieu cut off his radio and turned back to Joe. “Let’s got and get you dressed for the flight.” The little girl nodded, silent as he pushed her along.

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In twenty minutes, Joe was dressed up in an aviation suit and being helped into Black Betty. She was about to climb into the back when Matthieu grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Nope,” he said. Joe looked up at him.

“Why not?” she asked.

“You are piloting the plane,” he said. The little girl narrowed her eyes at him.

“What?” she asked, tilting her head.

“You, little miss Joe, are flying Black Betty!”

“I can’t, I’m only ten years old.”

“That’s why I’m flying with you.” Matthieu held up his hand before she could speak. “I will help you fly her. I know you can do it.” Joe pressed her lips together.

“You sure?” she asked.

“Yes,” he told her. “I believe in and your grandmother would too.” The little girl pressed her lips together. Her stomach turned as she debated in her mind of how she would do this. Her late grandmother said that she wanted to fly this in her youth. It would be nice to have Flying Duchess reborn. Joe clenched her fists as her sides.

“Alright,” she said.

“Let me help you in,” he said. Her co-pilot stood on the sturdy black wing as he helped Joe into the cockpit. She settled into the seat, looking around. The child had never seen the inside of a plane close up before.

“How’s the view, pilot?” Matthieu asked as he sat in the seat behind her. Joe nodded as she lowered her googles.

“I can’t believe I’m actually here!” she said. The older man chuckled as he lowered his googles.

“Wait until we get into the air,” he told her.

“Flying Duchess to ground control, do you copy?” a voice asked over the radio. Joe jumped at the sound, looking around.

“Who said that?” she asked. Matthieu broke into laughter.

“Flying Duchess to ground control, do you copy?” the voice asked over the radio again.

“What do I do?” Joe asked.

“Answer them through your radio on your right,” Matthieu replied.

“Right,” she said.

“Flying Duchess to ground control, do you copy?” the voice over the radio for a third time. Joe quickly picked up her radio.

“I’m here!” she said quickly. “Who is this?” Joe let go of the button.

“My name’s Ace,” the first man answered.

“And I’m Bernard,” the other man said.

“We will be your ground control for this flight,” Ace said. Joe gave them a nervous chuckle as she turned to Matthieu.

“They are good people,” he assured her. “We will be fine.” Joe pressed the button.

“Nice to meet you, I guess…” she said.

“Today’s a special day,” Bernard said. “Matthieu fixed up Black Betty just for you.” A puzzled look came over the little girl’s face.

“For me?” she asked.

“That’s right,” Matthieu said behind her. “We just want to see you smile again.”

“Are you ready for take-off?” Ace asked over the radio.

“Uh…” Joe said. She turned her head behind her. Matthieu gave her a quick nod.

“I guess…” the child answered.

“Ooo, that didn’t sound convincing,” Ace said. “Let’s try that again. Are you ready for take-off?”

“Yeah!” Joe shouted.

“That’s better,” he said over the radio.

“Uh… how do I start it up?” she asked.

“Flip the switches in the cockpit,” Bernard told her.

“Okay…” the young pilot said. She looked around for the right switches. “Which ones do I turn on?”

“Just the ones that control air pressure and engine,” he said.

“Right,” Joe said.

“It will be okay,” Matthieu said. “I will be watching.” The little girl flipped on the switches accordingly.

“Very good,” he said.

“Ready for the next part?” Bernard asked over the radio.

“Yes!” Joe and Matthieu shouted.

“Turn the key and slowly drive the plan down the runway,” the maintenance guy told the pilots.

“Roger!” Joe said, getting into the role of a pilot. She located the key and gave it a good turn. The low roar of the engine made her heart jump in her chest. Matthieu placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Just relax,” he whispered. Joe gripped the wheel. I can do this, she thought. Black Betty’s first run out of retirement started off slow across the runway. All three men helped her through the ride before take-off.

“How do I get this to go faster?” Joe asked.

“Push the pedals and steer upwards!” Ace shouted over the radio.

“Okay!” Joe shouted. In within fifty-five minutes, Black Betty finally made it into the air. Joe felt like flying out of the plane into the clouds.

“I did it!” she shouted.

“Congrats!” Matthieu shouted back.

“Where exactly are we going?”

“Wherever you like.”

“But I don’t know where to go!”

“Let’s just fly around for a bit and then will land back at the air park by sundown, okay?”

“Alright,” Joe replied. She turned the plane to the left. It felt so good to have the wind blowing through her long black hair. Matthieu didn’t think he would live to see her smiling again. However, his plan would hit a little snag as thick, dark clouds started rolling in.