“Miss Copperfield, please remain calm,” the operator said when the call connected.
“First, reduce the weight in the balloon by discarding any unnecessary items. That will slow your descent.”
I followed the instructions, throwing out everything I could.
“We’ll contact the pilot on standby immediately. Stay on the line.”
But the helium was leaking faster than I’d expected. With tears threatening to overwhelm me, I pleaded, “Please hurry, I don’t have much time. I’m drifting towards the cliff.”
Before long, the park staff called me back.
“Is this Astrid? Isn’t Keith with you?”
“He jumped with Michelle first. My parachute is damaged, please hurry!” I cried.
The staff member sighed. “This is bizarre. All ten hot air balloons were fully booked today, and every pilot is already in the air. The area you’re in, Zone A, is an odd choice.”
Even as they tried to calm my nerves, they guided me through what I needed to do.
“Do you know where the gas valve is? Release the air to lower your altitude as quickly as possible.”
The hot air balloon floated ominously above the cliff, and I couldn’t see the bottom no matter how hard I looked. I knew that releasing the air now would only speed up my demise.
“I can’t release the air. The balloon is hovering too high above the cliff, the drop would be too severe.”
The staff member hesitated.
“Don’t panic. Keith has already jumped, right? Once he’s back, I’ll have him get to you immediately.”
Anxiety gnawed at me as I questioned whether Keith had landed safely. He was my only hope— the most skilled one who could come back to save me.
With a faint glimmer of hope, I called him three times before someone finally picked up.
“Keith, please help me…” I cried, desperation creeping into my voice.
Before I could explain that my parachute was broken, he interrupted me.
“Are you pretending to be pregnant again, or is this another act?
“You’ve already done skydiving before at the park, and while the boys were so scared, you had a blast. Why are you being so dramatic?
“Just jump already! Stop being so stubborn!”
Then I heard Michelle’s delicate voice on the other end. “Keith, I feel so dizzy, and my heart hurts.”
“I need to take Chelle to the hospital for a check-up. Once you land, you’ll have to make your own way home,” Keith said before he hung up.
