T minus 5 seconds:

It was about 9 am. I toasted a bagel and began to prepare some coffee.

Liftoff:

I smothered a generous amount of cream cheese onto the bagel and stirred the coffee.

175,000 feet and climbing:

I took a bite of the bagel and a big gulp of black coffee.

350,000 feet and ready for descent:

"Where do they land?" my wife asked.

"Not far from where they went up, I guess," I answered as I took another bite.

Touchdown:

"I'm glad they made it okay," she said.

"Yeah. Me too!" I said as I finished breakfast.

Story and Cover Illustration Copyright © 2021 by Michael DeFrancesco