Fred did a final check on his bag and then proceeded to put his sneakers on. The afternoon delight that Sena had served him took every bit of energy out of him, so he’d slept the rest of the day. There really was nothing more satisfying than the sleep after turning the feral cat called Sena into a tamed tigress.

As he put the shoes on, he checked his phone for a text, but there was none. He checked the time, checked his texts again, and there was still nothing.

“She should’ve landed by now.”

He called her but it did not even ring before the line died.

“Flight is hella late.”

He shrugged, picked up his bag, and headed out.

*****

Gate 41 was busy with conversations and movement. There were the usual passengers who were awaiting seat confirmation. There were also the ones who were on a waitlist for a seat upgrade who liked to hang around the counter in hopes of a miracle.

In the middle of the organized chaos, multiple people got notifications on their phones that made them mumble. The more the receivers, the more the mumbling turned into grumbling. Soon, everyone at the gate was either irritated or seeking answers. After what seemed like an eternity, one of the two attendants at the counter picked up the announcer.

“Good evening, Gate 41. This is Marica, your flight attendant on EA-23759, service to Nairobi. Unfortunately, your gate has been moved from 41 to 23. I repeat, your gate is now gate 23. Pre-boarding and boarding will be delayed by another thirty minutes to allow everyone to move in time. The flight now boards in thirty minutes. We are sorry for any inconveniences caused. As a way of apologizing, we are giving everyone free snacks. We are also giving away a $500 voucher to each of you as a way to thank you for your patience. So please begin moving now, and I will meet you all at our new gate.”

The very annoyed mob of passengers started to make their way to the new gate, complaining and placing blame at everyone’s door that they could think of. The other attendant waited a little for the crowd to thin.

The other flight attendant typed something on her computer as she said, “No lie, I would be mad if I was one of them. We just deplaned the incoming flight, and it has the all-clear to fly. This change is a bit weird, Marica.”

Marica went to make sure the gate door was closed. “I get your point, Mildred, but you know how these pilots can be. They won’t do this unless something’s deemed unsafe.”

Mildred went quiet and waited until Marica got back to the table. She spoke in a much lower tone. “By the way, did you hear about the flight to Addis earlier today?”

Marica started to type on her computer. “What about it?”

Mildred leaned closer. “Its not been officially confirmed, but I heard its gone missing.”

Mildred raised her eyebrow. “Missing?”

“Yeah. The control tower lost it shortly after is ascent. They are currently unable to track it.”

Marica stopped typing and turned to Mildred. “Mildred. I hope you haven’t said this to anyone else cos it sounds like you’re talking about a movie.”

Mildred looked even more serious. “I’m not joking, Marica. You know how much I flirt with John.”

Marica narrowed her eyes at Mildred.

“Okay, maybe we do a lot more than flirt. But he’s the one who told me, and he honestly looked panicked. He was even almost shaking. And get this: that flight also had a sudden change in gate, but somehow was allowed to fly with only one passenger.”

Marica shook her head and went back to typing. “Lady, you’d better go to 23 and start the process before the angry mob comes back here for us.”

“You really think I’m lying, don’t you?”

Marica looked at Mildred with the gravest face she could make. “I don’t at all, Mildred. A whole flight itinerary was changed so that one person could be kidnapped on a disappearing plane, in a world where everyone can track the president’s jet at all times. It’s all so spooky. Hell, I was in on it too. Its almost as if flight control’s software is not a hundred years old, and a witch didn’t take advantage and hijack a whole plane!”

Finally realizing that she was being mocked the whole time, Mildred flipped the bird at Marica as she walked away.

Still laughing in satisfaction, Marica yelled out, “I’ll meet you at 23!”

Marica waited until Mildred was out of sight, and then she made a call. “Runway is set. All clear for takeoff.”

******

Fred breezed through the security checkpoint and sat down to put his shoes on. While tying the laces on the first one, he tried to call Sena again to no avail. His level of concern was high.

He made a mental note to check with the attendant at the gate and see if anything had happened to that flight. Two guys around him were speaking loudly, and he managed to overhear the conversation as he tied the laces on his other shoe.

“…Yeah oo, I was supposed to be on that Addis flight at noon. I got up to get ready aa, here was an email from Express that they moved it to 9pm. How ano bore eh.”

“Ah, but how could they just move a flight like that without warning?”

“Me se! I tried to call them but then they said there was a problem with that plane. They offered the 9am, which I would have had to rush to make but I took, and then they moved me again to the 9pm.”

“Ah! Express Air be bomb la. The whole world, most useless airline waaa. The assholes moved you twice?”

“Chale. Talk am again oo. They moved me to the 9am, so me a figa sey all was kosher. Der nooor they sent another email. That plane too come get problem.”

Fred’s ears immediately perked up, and he pretended to be on his phone as the conversation continued.

“Funny thing though. Before I checked in, it looked like that 9am flight had already departed. So I felt bamboozled. But then as I dey the counter dey do check in, I heard one of the attendants saying that the flight never moved.”

“Wait oo. The app say the flight move, but the people say e no move?”

“Yeah oo. Apparently, people got here expecting to be on the flight, and then they changed their gate and canceled the flight altogether. That be why space no dey dis one, sekof all the morning people who got moved.”

“Waa see. Dema app sef be yawa. Why kraa I dey fly plus these fools? Small cheap man wan make cheap so sey…”

Fred’s brisk walk was a clear indicator of his full-blown anxiety. He’d usually look through the duty-free shops, buy a book, maybe even get some food before he got to the gate but not this time. The brisk walk became a lung-busting run, and he almost crashed into the counter at his gate.

The lady at the counter flinched in fright, almost spilling the water she was drinking. “Are you alright, sir?”

Still out of breath, Fred composed himself, his heart still beating faster than a race car at top speed. “I’m…sorry, lady. I’m… just really… worried. Please give me a minute.”

“Please try to calm down, sir. I can offer you some water if you need any.”

Fred breathed in and out a few times, which managed to slow his heart down just enough for him to make full sentences. He then took a few gulps of the water, which seemed to aid the process. “Please, I need some information on a flight that left for Addis Ababa this morning at 9am. I need to know if it actually flew.”

“What’s your name, sir?”

“Fred Klutse, please.”

“Okay. One moment.”

As the lady looked up the information, she placed a bottle of water in front of Fred. “Is someone you know on that flight?”

Still breathless, Fred answered, “Yes. My wife.”

“Oh okay. It says here that it was delayed till about 11, and then it finally took off at 11:30. This is all available on the Express Air app. It should get there in about another hour or so. Since we’ll be in the air when it lands, I could come to you and let you know if that’s alright with you.”

Fred breathed a sigh of relief, and then followed it with deep breaths to settle his system. “Yes, I will appreciate that very much. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Is there anything else I could do for you?”

“No, that will be all. Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. The flight to Nairobi will be leaving on time, and we are currently anticipating a smooth flight. Hopefully you’re able to get a good rest in.”

As Fred was about to walk way, the attendant called him back. “I’m so sorry, I almost forgot. Did you say your last name was Klutse?”

“Yes.”

She handed him a small red envelope. “This was left for you earlier today at the main counter.”

Fred took the envelope. “Happy Valentine’s Day, sir.”

Fred sat, opened the envelope, and was greeted with a message that would make any man crazy.

“69 on the ground was crazy. Wonder how 69 in the air would feel? You are cordially invited to the mile-high club. Bring your A-game, or should I say your D game.”

There was a wink at the end of that, and a heart right next to it.

Fred smiled to himself. “I’ll get this bitch. I will get this bitch good.”

He looked at the time, read the note again, and then faded into sleep.

Yeah, something is definitely amiss. And these flight attendants know something about it…