Ridin’ on the Clouds

"Weeee!" takes away the worry and stress.

After the Captain came on the intercom to announce “a little bumpier ride than normal,” Marissa braced for what the passengers around her would think about her mothering skills.

On the climb out two hours before, her 3-year-old Darla screamed at the top of her lungs until they made it to cruising altitude. Marissa apologized the entire time and tried to comfort Darla, but the toddler just wasn’t consolable.

 Now, as they were entering turbulence…

“Weee, Mommy,” Darla said loudly. “This is fun. Hit another bump, Cappin. And another, and another. Weee! Mommy, tell the man to hit another bump! Woo Hoo! That was a good one.”

When the aircraft took a reprieve from the turbulence, Darla said, “Mommy, didn’t that man want us all to have fun? Let’s do it again!”

As soon as those words exited her lips, the aircraft passed through another layer of clouds, this time more turbulent and bumpier than before.

Marissa gave up apologizing when she saw smiles from nearby passengers.

Perhaps it was Darla’s way of making up for her crankiness earlier in the flight.

Or perhaps not.

Since Darla was having a great time, all passengers within earshot should be having the same kind of fun too.

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