Taking Flight

he three of them crested the hill and went into the clearing. The morning sun had warmed the grass. There was no wind. The air was still over the meadow. It was a rare, perfect moment. In the middle of the field sat their future. The future of the village, the future of everything.

Celia, the oldest of the three, grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. Thin but wiry, she carried herself like someone with confidence, someone born to lead. Exhilaration radiated from her. After all the pleading and cajoling, after all the arguing with Elders more than twice her age, it was finally time.

The Circle of Elders had finally, reluctantly, agreed to let them try. The village was still mourning the death of the newborn from fever when the Healers ran out of herbs. Celia promised that when this worked, the village wouldn’t have to suffer like this again. Trade would be faster, supplies could be gathered before another sickness took hold.

The young man behind her, Jason, was the pragmatic one. He had steady hands, a keen mind and endless doubts. He had the sturdy build of someone used to physical labor. He went to work checking and double checking the basket. He had spent countless hours with the weavers working and perfecting his design. The reeds were still supple and gave off a faint grassy scent as he ran his fingers across the bindings. He pressed his hand on the side, pushing on the double-layered bottom that held the carefully placed stones. The basket gave a slight groan, it was strong but light. Jason hoped he had found the right balance. The design would be tested soon.

Sue’s boots pounded on the packed earth beneath the meadow’s grass as she stomped her feet in excitement. Patience had never been one of her virtues. Shorter than the other two but wiry and light on her feet, she vibrated with pent up energy. She couldn’t wait any longer and easily vaulted into the basket, her long dark braid swinging over her shoulder. She wiggled the toes of her boots to find the depressions in the stones. The reeds of the basket crunched and shifted under her weight.

The curious members of the village stopped at the hilltop, sitting cross-legged on the grass. There was some whispering, most simply watched. From their vantage point, the three youth formed a striking picture. Celia was tall and steady, Jason was broad shouldered and tense, Sue was the youngest and stood boldly in the basket. The villagers were quiet, as if afraid they would jinx the experiment. A few had been directly involved, some had sat in on the discussions but all had heard of the crazy idea the three youngsters had insisted would work. All of them wondered what would happen today, would the impossible become possible.

Jason and Celia took their places, standing directly across from each other, about ten paces back from the basket. Sue looked from one to the other, hands gripping the sides of the basket, knees slightly bent in anticipation.

“I’m ready,” Sue’s steady voice carried across the meadow. Her defiance would not allow any doubts to surface.

“Let’s do it!” Celia practically shouted in her excitement. Her voice silenced the remaining murmurs from the hilltop watchers, no one wanted a stray word to jinx the attempt.

The three concentrated on the stones. A deep hum started, it vibrated briefly then faltered and stopped. Sue felt a slight wobble through the soles of her feet.

Jason’s brow furrowed. His usually steady hands nervously clenched and flexed by his sides. It wasn’t working. Breaking his focus, he exhaled forcefully in frustration.

Sue bit her lower lip. Her fingers dug into the sides of the basket. Without realizing it, she held her breath, her shoulders and arms locked tight.

“Breathe in... exhale out... concentrate,” Celia recited quietly, forcefully, confidently, with a commanding rhythm. She was the tallest of the three and her still stance was like a guiding pillar. “Breathe in... out... concentrate on the stones.” Celia’s strong, controlled breathing calmed them. It set the pace, blowing away their panic and worry. Jason matched her first. Then Sue blew out her air and took a long, shaky inhale -- the three were in sync.

Slowly, so slowly, the basket levitated off the ground. The slight creak of the reeds whispered across the meadow. Working in tandem had always been forbidden. The unbridled optimism of the young was proving the old rules wrong.

Celia’s grin threatened to split her face. Her eyes were bright with triumph and excitement, her statue like stance finally relaxing.

Sue looked down, immediately sensing the difference. Her fingers loosened, the tenseness leaving her shoulders, her braid swinging down to lightly tap the side of the basket.

Jason, breath steady at last, felt a rare spark of excitement. The tension in his face left. He recognized what they had achieved. The future was here.