Ficlets

“I can’t look,” Kate said as she placed her hands over her eyes.

As the plane steadily rolled down the runway, he pulled back the throttle and tried to engage the reverse-thrust system. Susan raced into the cockpit and pulled on the control wheel. The plane rocked to and fro, causing Steve to bump the throttle forward and step on the right rudder. “Belgium! We’re gonna get married! Take us to Belgium!”

The plane went careening off the runway, headed directly for Cactus Charlie’s bar. The group of people watching inside the bar quickly made a mad rush for the exit signs.

“Get out of here,” Steve yelled, but Susan continued pushing the throttle forward. He pushed her out of the cockpit as the nose of the plane slammed into the front window of Cactus Charlie’s airport bar.

The majority of the nose and fuselage penetrated the large window that overlooked the flight line. Smoke furled from the cockpit controls through a gaping hole in the cockpit.