(
Flashback - F3- Area Of Survivor's Camp - Day 9)
Flashback - September 22, 2004 - three hours before flight
“Sarah Jessica Appleton, you need to come down right now.” Heather tapped her foot impatiently as she stared up at her eight-year-old in a tree. She was up there because she didn’t want to go on a plane ride, she wanted to stay in Australia. “Sarah, please come down, it is very high.”
“No plane, staying here.” She stood her ground and stared down at her mother, “Not going.”
“I can’t deal with this right now, Derek, please talk to her.” Heather had been trying to get her ready all morning, she was at her wit's end.
“Little Joey, why are you giving your mother a hard time? You have to go, it’s going to be an adventure.” He watched as Sarah thought about it but she didn’t look convinced.
“I want to stay here, bad feeling.” Sarah pouted, “Safe, here.”
“You have to go see grandma, you love seeing grandma.”
“See’s grandma in June, to early.”
“Grandma really wants to see you and says she has lots of fun things planned. You’ll see Reggie, you like Reggie.” Reggie is her grandmother's cat, he was a mean thing to everyone but Sarah and her grandmother.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him, he scared me! You want me to go because I hurt him!” Sarah climbed down the tree and hugged her papa. “Don’t send me away, daddy, I want to stay.”
“You didn’t mean too, I know but this is just for a little while. Mommy and I, we’re going to miss you so much but we’ll talk once you get to grandma’s.”
“Mr. Floppers can come with me?”
“Most certainly, you’ll need him to protect you and make you smile.” Heather was knelt down next to her now, tears running down her face. “I’m going to miss you so much, my sweet girl.”
“You’re sad, mommy?”
“Very,” Heather ran her hand through Sarah’s hair. “Let’s check your suitcase and make sure I got everything. Then daddy and I can drive you to the airport.”
One hour before departure
“Sarah, remember to ask if you need help. No hitting, or biting, or hurting anyone. You be a big girl,” Heather held onto Sarah and kissed her face, “Big hugs, big, big hugs.”
“We love you,” Derek hated that he couldn’t be on that plane but they could only afford one ticket, hers. They held her all the way to the gate and took a breath, “Her grandmother will be waiting for her when she arrives. If you guys could keep an eye on her?”
“Sarah has autism, this is just a list of things. I just want to make sure she’ll be safe, that everyone will be safe.” Heather handed the list over to the man and he read it.
“I will notify the aircrew, we’ll be fast friends.” The man knelt down but stayed back, “Hello, Ms. Appleton, my name is Ray- ready to board?”
She looked at him and tilted her head to the side, “Yes, you will help me?”
“Yes, we at Oceanic Airlines do our very best.”
“I like you, okay I’ll go.” She hugged her parents before holding her hand out for Ray.
“I Love you!” Derek called out.
“I Love you, best!” Heather called out.
“I Love you, most!” Sarah beamed and disappeared behind the gate doors.