Worlds Collide (The Land of Stories #6)(21)

“Everyone is looking at us like we’ve personally offended them,” Jack remarked.

“It’s because you brought a baby on a plane,” Bree said. “They’re worried he’s going to cry the whole way to New York.”

Goldilocks was not going to put up with this. She passed Hero to Jack and stood in the aisle where all the passengers could see her.

“Now, wait just one Hickory Dickory second,” she called out. “I don’t care if you have to listen to my baby cry! Eight days ago I experienced the worst pain humanly possible by pushing him out of my body! It’s something all mothers must endure for the survival of our species! It’s natural, it’s brave, it’s beautiful, and I will NOT be disrespected for it! Now, I suggest you all wipe those foul looks off your faces or YOU’LL be the ones crying all the way to New York!”

“I’d listen to my wife if I were you,” Jack added. “She’s on caffeine.”

All the passengers quickly diverted their gazes elsewhere. Bree tried to start a round of applause for Goldilocks, but no one joined her.

Once his friends had stopped causing problems and settled into their seats, Conner was able to take his first deep breath of the day. He looked around the plane and saw a Boy Scout sitting across the aisle. He was cute and chubby and obviously took the Boy Scouts very seriously, because his whole uniform was covered in pins and badges. The boy eagerly stared down at a map of New York City and was so giddy, he could barely sit still.

“Hi!” the Scout said when he noticed Conner. “My name’s Oliver. What’s yours?”

“I’m Conner. Are you excited about New York?”

“I’ve never been so excited in my whole life!” Oliver exclaimed. “This is actually my first time on a plane! New experiences don’t make me nervous, though. This badge is for bravery.”

“Are you doing anything special in New York?” Conner asked.

“I’m going for the big Boy and Girl Scouts of America Camp-Out!” Oliver said happily. “This year they’re having it tonight in Central Park! Normally the city doesn’t allow campers in the park, but they’re making an exception for us. My family doesn’t have much money, so I had to sell a thousand pounds of popcorn to pay for the trip. I sold more than any other Scout in the Western Region! That’s what this badge is for.”

“Congratulations,” Conner said. “That’s a lot of popcorn.”

“How about you? What are you going to New York for?”

“Um… visiting family. At least, I hope. It’s kind of a surprise trip.”

“Neat,” Oliver said. “Well, it’s been nice talking to you, but I’d better get back to my map. I’m trying to memorize it before we land. I’m really good at navigation, that’s what this badge is for.”

“Good luck,” Conner said. “Have fun camping.”

The Boy Scout smiled so hard, dimples appeared in his cheeks. He looked back down and became lost in his map of New York City again. Oliver’s excitement reminded Conner of Alex on their first trip to the fairy-tale world. He remembered how she’d hogged their map of the kingdoms and how they’d fought over directions. The memory made Conner smile for the first time all week, but it was odd to think of a time when the Land of Stories didn’t feel like home.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please lend us your eyes and ears as we go over our safety demonstration,” said a voice from the speakers.

The flight attendants stood in the aisles and gave instructions on how to buckle the seat belts and wear the safety vests, and pointed to the emergency exits. A cartoon showed the passengers how to properly put on the oxygen masks and evacuate the plane in the event of an emergency. By the time the safety demonstration was done, the plane had departed the gate and was cruising toward the runway.

Red reached over Jack’s and Goldilocks’s seats and tapped Bree and Conner on the shoulders.

“Sorry, those yellow vests were so ugly, I zoned out,” she said. “Could you repeat those bits about cabin pressure and water landings?”

“If the cabin loses oxygen, masks will drop down from the ceiling so we can breathe.” Bree filled her in. “And in the event of a water landing, the bottom of the plane will turn into a flotation device.”

“But that’s absurd,” Red said. “Why would we end up in water? Can’t the driver just steer around it?”

Suddenly, the plane rocketed down the runway. The force slammed Red into her seat and she screamed.

“WHAT’S HAPPENING?” she shouted.

“Relax, we’re just taking off,” Bree said.

“TAKING OFF WHAT?”

“Into the air.”

Bree thought it was obvious, but judging from the horrified look on Red’s face, it wasn’t.

“THIS THING GOES INTO THE AIR?” she asked in a panic.

“Yeah, that’s why it’s called a flight.”

“I WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED THAT MINOR DETAIL BEFORE WE BOARDED! IS IT TOO LATE TO GET OFF?”

“Yes!” the whole cabin said in unison.

As the jet launched into the air, Conner closed his eyes. The subtle movements of the plane quickly rocked him to sleep. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a peaceful rest.