Janet watched the scene with fascination. The ground crew rolled a small platform up to the door of the passenger cabin and a girl, not much older than herself and dressed in a smoke grey suit with a jaunty overseas cap perched on a mass of brown curls, stepped out. After her came several passengers, alighting for a bit of air and to stretch their legs before settling down for the long flight over the plains and into the higher altitudes that would take them over the Rockies.
Janet’s mother hugged her hard.
“We’ll miss you, dear. Write often and remember to do your best if you get a chance in any pictures.”
“I will, mother,” she promised.
“Goodbye, Dad.”
“Goodbye, Janet. Hit the line hard.”
“I’ll tackle it with all I’ve got.”
“I know you will,” he said with a confidence that Janet wished she could have felt.
Then Helen’s father touched her arm.
“Time to go,” he said, and Janet and Helen walked toward the plane while the Thornes said a final word of goodbye to their old neighbors.