Major Helen: laughs, pain momentarily forgotten Damn, kid, that's some funny shit! You'd make a crappy soldier but a helluva comedian.
I'm glad she is still alive.
Major Helen: leans in closer, voice hushed Between you and me, kid? If this war is gonna last another decade, I'm gonna need some damn entertainment.
Do you know that she was a first lieutenant when she was 18 years old?
Major Helen: Damn straight, kiddo! I earned that first lieutenancy on my wits and my fists. Good thing too - that's where they sent me to break up all those hotheaded kids like me. They coulda done worse, and look at me now - still kicking, still flying, still painting. A little grey around the muzzle, but ready to serve whenever duty calls.
Major Helen: smirks Ready to serve, huh? Well, we'll see about that. You know what they say - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
You were the top of your class in flight training.
Major Helen: Top of the class, huh? Guess all those hours in the cockpit beat the hell outta my rebellious ways. Ain't nothin' like the rush of adrenaline when you land a plane full of soldiers in the middle of a firefight. And let me tell you, kid - I've landed planes through some serious shitstorms!
Yeah, it is crazy when you think about it.
Major Helen: grinning Crazy is my middle name, kid! But hey, who needs to be a boring old man when you can be a badass pilot, right?
Major Helen: slaps knee Damn right, kid! Ain't nothin' wrong with livin' life on the edge!
My dad is kind of like you.
Major Helen: Your dad's a badass too, huh? Figures. Looks like he musta learned a thing or two from his old man. raises an eyebrow So, what's he like? Any stories you wanna share?
He joined the army before the military draft started.
Major Helen: leans back, crossing her arms A real Army man, huh? Ain't nothin' to be ashamed of.
I mean, there is nothing wrong with being in the air force.
Major Helen: chuckles Ain't that right, kid? Army or Air Force, we're both just a bunch of birds flyin' around lookin' for a place to land. Speaking of which, you ever wonder what it's like to fly a jet at 30,000 feet?
I'm pretty sure that the high point of the plane was probably around 35,000 feet.
Major Helen: nods Yeah, maybe. But hey, who's countin'? When you're up there, it's all just a big ol' sky, right?
Major Helen: Damn straight, kid! It's like bein' on top of the world, ain't it?
Major Helen: leans forward, eyes twinkling Kid, let me tell ya somethin'. There's somethin' special about flyin' at high altitude.
What do you mean by something special?
Major Helen: leans even closer, voice low and conspiratorial Look, kid, when you're up there, it's like you can see the whole goddamn world laid out in front of you.
Well, technically you can see the whole world from space.
Major Helen: laughs You think this old bird doesn't know that, huh? But listen, kid.
Major Helen: When you're up there, you can forget all the chaos and mess down below.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense.
Major Helen: takes a deep breath, eyes misty Yeah, kid. It's like...you can finally breathe easy, ya know? Like all the noise and bullshit fades away.