High Flyin' Frequency Fluctuation

High Flyin' Frequency Fluctuation
Written by:  Tim Ross
Illustrated by:  Scott Ross

It was his turn to fly with the captain that night,
As the “Junior Sky Pilot” on that bumpy flight.

For Tommy Lattrell  this was pretty hot stuff,
And of this kind of fun there is never enough! 

The airline allowed one person each week,
To observe all the pilots and the buttons they tweak.

They sit in the cockpit to see how it’s done.
For a boy who is twelve, this was some kind of fun.

But of all of the days to be picked to go fly,
After this flight, he’d be asking, “Why?”

High in the sky, how high we don’t know ,
The lightning above was flashing below.

Screaming along in a very fast  jet,
Tommy’s poor tummy was very upset.

Then something happened they’d never forget.
At least Tommy L. won’t  forget I would bet.

Several bright flashes all lit up the craft.
The lights went out quickly, both forward and aft.

“KABLAM!” and “KAZOWEE!,” was the noise they all heard!
The passengers froze... no one spoke a word!

“KABLAM!” and “KAZOWEE!” crashed the same sounds again!
A plane load of folks thought they’d reached the end.

It scared the bejiggers out of the captain and crew!
The bejiggers were scared out of Tommy L.  too!

Somehow the airplane kept flying just fine.
The wings were still on, the engines still whined.

But back up in the front where the pilots were seated,
Some serious “First-Aid” was possibly needed.

The captain was silent, and his co-pilot too.
They had passed-out!   What would the crew do?

No other pilots were aboard that could fly,
So Tommy jumped up to say, “Hey, I can try!”

Though Tommy was twelve,  he knew quite a lot.
And like Tommy said, “I’m all that you’ve got!”

That’s what he told them, the crew was all staring.
To let Tommy pilot  would be awfully daring.

He grabbed hold of the stick and then squeezed the throttle,
And with time running out, there was no room to doddle.

The first thing he did was call the air tower,
‘Cause he knew that his fuel would last but an hour. 

“Control!,” Tommy called, “This is  flight 62.
Wow!...  do I have a good story for you!”

“I’m a twelve year old boy that’s flying this ship,
Would you please check the radar for my little blip!”

“We hit a big storm and we’re mighty short handed.
“I’m going to need help, to get this plane landed.”

“We’ve been struck by lightning, or something or such,
But checking for damage, I don’t see too much.”

“Our captain and crew  passed out and can’t fly.
I’m all that you have and I’m willing to try!”

It was really amazing, the crew was impressed,
Tommy was the best for this test they all guessed!

The control tower answered Tom’s plea for assistance.
And though he was  twelve, they made no resistance.

“Tommy,” they said,  “We’re all gathered  around.
We’ll give you some help to bring your plane down.”

“We’re awfully proud that you’re willing to try,
And with a bit of our help we think you can fly.”

Tommy was shaky and, of course, a bit frightened.
On that ol’ steering wheel his fingers had tightened.

There was no turning back, now Tommy was flying,
Though not very good, at least he was trying.

So fly Tommy did... there just wasn’t a choice.
At least he knew how and that was cause to rejoice! 

A few minutes passed and Tom called the tower,
To remind them again he had fuel for an hour.

But something was wrong with his radio set.
The tower he called... but just couldn’t get.

He tried once again but he didn’t get through.
Without all their help what would Tommy do?

“Control,” this is Tom, “Can you read me down there?”
But no answer came back which caused him despair.

He wasn’t so sure he could fly without help,
So once more, with real gusto, he gave a big yelp!

“Control,” this is Tom, “on Flight 62,
I think I need help!  What should I do!”

Tom,   %#@:’)   this is tower, you’re   @@%(:”   too hard to hear,
Your radio’s broke   #@!:>.:(   we’re beginning to fear!

Though the signal was scratchy, Tom heard enough.
With his radio broke it would be very tough.

But could it be fixed?  He’d give it a try.
“But why won’t it work?” he asked again, Why?”

The crew members assisted, all hoping to find,
A clue that would help... of any ol’ kind.

Tom checked all the dials and the buttons and switches.
He checked on the floor and in  the hem of his britches.

They searched up above and under the seats.
They scavenged around ‘til the search was complete.

When the searching was done and the crew was all through,
Tom let out some steam, “I’m not sure what to do!”

“I know how to fly but I’m not all that good.
If I had help from below I know that I could”

Each passing minute, the tensions all mounted.
With the fuel running low, the minutes they counted.

Then all of a sudden the door opened wide,
As a crew member entered from the plane’s other side.

As Tommy glanced back, out came a, “WHOAAA!”
When he looked at the girl who was in the front row.

It was the craziest darn thing the crew’d ever seen.
The top of her head was all glowing and green.

Tom tried once again to talk to the tower.
He tapped on the mic to give it more power.

Sparks danced all around the hair curlers she wore.
Each time that Tom talked there were more than before.

Then someone mentioned, “Hey Tom,  I’ve a hunch.
When the radio’s on, the sparks jump a bunch.”

“It might be the curlers, that are glowing and green,
That mixed up our radio, if you know what I mean.”

Tom talked again, to test out this theory.
He’d try anything now, he felt so darn weary.

And wouldn’t you know it, when he pushed the mic button,
The sparks on her head would start spittin’ and sputtin’!

The radios blared with a whole bunch of hissing,
The voice from below was now totally missing.

So that was the problem, it’s why Tom couldn’t talk.
It’s why, when he tried, he would only hear squawks.

Pilot Tom was perplexed, his crew had detected,
‘Cause a challenge like this he hadn’t expected.

Those curlers were causing the problems they’d had.
The girl was embarrassed and a little bit mad.

“My name is Jill... and  you’ve got to be kidding.
You say it’s my curlers that  the signals are hitting?”

The crew members assisted this lass in her plight.
Her curlers were hot and connected real tight.

 As a matter of fact, they were stuck to her scalp.
“They aren't coming out!”, she screamed with a yelp!

With time running out and not a moment to spare,
Someone suggested that they cut off her hair.

But Jill’s hair was so pretty, so soft and so long.
Her feelings about it were bound to be strong.

Those waves had been there since she was just ten.
It would take twenty years to grow them again!

Jill gave it some thought... and a second one too.
She was pretty grown up and she knew what to do.

“LET’S CUT IT!” said Jill... it’s a lot better than crashing!”
So for a pair of good scissors the crew went a-dashing!

She was pretty embarrassed, you could tell she was shaking.
All the passengers cheered the sacrifice she was making!

When the last of her locks to the floor they had fallen.
Once again from below the controllers came calling!

With the curlers all off of the top of her head,
The radio worked... it was no longer dead!

It was a very close call but Jill saved the flight,
When the radio broke on that ill-fated night.

“Flight 62... are you still flying real high?
Are you still in the air!   Are you still in the sky?”

“YES!” Tom replied, we’re doing all right,
Though Flight 62’s been a nutty ol’ flight!”

“The radios work and the plane is still soaring.
Trust me when I say... This flight is not boring!”

 But the flight hadn’t ended, it was high in the sky.
“And it still has to be landed!” said Tom with a sigh!

Tom and the people in the control  tower below,
Talked back and forth about the things he should know.

They talked about gears and the parts of a jet.
They talked about things that would need to be set.

They talked about brakes and they talked about wings.
They talked about speed and the runway and things.

They talked about buttons and the dials on the ceiling.
They talked so darn much Tom’s head it was reeling.

Tom followed instructions from the controllers below.
“I think I can do it!... “Lets give it a go!”

The controllers worked hard to keep Tom in line,
And they had to agree... he was doing just fine.

“Flight 62, please bring down your speed.
We figure three-hundred is all you will need.”

“The flaps on the wings should be lowered right now.
And keep the nose up... a ways anyhow.

“You’ve two miles to go and you’re doing just fine.
Keep your plane pointed at that small center line.”

“Tom... turn on the lights and you’re “GO” for a landing.”
Was the very last thing he heard them demanding.

For a “Junior Sky Pilot” he was well in control,
Though a small gust of wind gave the plane a quick roll.

The runway approached,  there was no turning back.
As the wheel hit the ground you could hear a quick crack!

Following their orders, Tom reached for the brakes.
He gave a big pull and the plane got the shakes.

But soon it was coasting at a very slow speed.
Tommy had landed... he had landed indeed.

An ambulance, fire-trucks, and and other things too,
All hurried to Tommy and Flight 62.

Loud sirens  wailed and the lights were all flashing!
Emergency workers were whooshing and dashing!

“Was anyone hurt?  Do you see any flames?”
The firemen all asked when they got to the plane.

No one was injured, but a few were sure shaken,
At the thought of the flight they had just taken.

As they parted the plane to be on their way,
They each gave a hug and to Tommy did say,

“Tommy Lattrell, we can’t thank you enough.
We know you’re just twelve but you’re awfully tough.

“You brought us all safely back down to the Earth,
And you can’t imagine what we think that is worth.”

“So we all tip our hats to a hero in our lives,
And we mean sincerely;  kids, husbands and wives.”

Much later that night on the late TV news,
Tommy was featured and got great reviews.

The next morning’s paper bragged about Tom,
And featured a picture of him hugging his Mom!

The Mayor gave Tom the “Key to the City.”
And new bike to boot, and man was it pretty.

The President called from the Whitehouse to say,
“Tommy, please come out to visit one day!”

The radio stations and reporters galore,
Wanted to talk... they all wanted more!

He liked the attention and felt really proud,
And wherever he went he stood out in the crowd.

It was really quite strange to be such a big hit,
But Tommy Lattrell didn’t mind it a bit.

But sooner or later he had to come down
From that lofty ol’ perch at the top of the town.

Tommy was happy with the luck that he’d had
With things going so well he couldn’t be sad.

The airline sure loved him... Who could deny it?
Ol’ Tom was their favorite “Junior Sky Pilot.”

He gets good grades in school.   He’s a mighty fine student.
And he’s preparing for college ‘cause Tom’s very prudent.

When you ask Tom Lattrell what makes him the proudest,
There’s one thing for sure he always shouts loudest.

“I like all my friends, my family and pets.
And I sure like to fly those high-flyin’ jets!

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