Leslie, a flight attendant on a cross-country journey, is terrified by a weird sound coming from the restroom. Little does she know that the child within will permanently alter her life.

Leslie stroked her temple with one hand as she walked towards her aircraft. She had a pounding headache from her night out at one of Atlanta’s trendiest clubs.

“Amy!” Leslie phoned when she recognized a fellow flight attendant. “Please tell me you have some headache pills.”

Amy rolled her eyes at Leslie. “Of course I do, but you should know better than to party the night before a cross-country flight.”

“Is visiting museums my only option?” Leslie asked. Leslie sighed. “At least partying keeps me distracted.”

Amy gave Leslie a gentle shove as they boarded the plane together. “One day, everything will work out for you, Leslie,” she added. “Just have faith.”

Leslie and Amy quickly began preparing for the passengers’ boarding, followed by the safety demonstration and ensuring that all passengers were situated. Finally, Leslie snuck into the kitchen and gulped her headache medications.

She pondered, “I wonder if Amy will mind if I lie down in the rest quarters for a bit.” An unusual sound halted her as she was about to leave to talk with her colleague.

Leslie halted, listening intently. A second later, she realized she must have dreamt it. Perhaps Amy was correct in her assessment that she was partying excessively. She had previously planned to attend numerous clubs when they arrived in Los Angeles, but maybe she’d take it leisurely and skip a couple.

When Leslie passed the bathroom door, she heard another high-pitched mewling. There could not have been a cat on the plane; thus, it must have been a child weeping.

Leslie knocked on the bathroom door. When no one responded, she opened the door and looked inside. A second later, she shouted. Leslie noticed the shivering bundle that had scared her was actually a small child. He had been sobbing and glanced up at her through teary eyes.

“Don’t do that!” Leslie spoke to the young kid who had astonished her.

“What are you doing in here?”

The youngster grabbed his knees and began weeping again. Now that she had recovered from her fright, Leslie felt sad for the youngster. She crouched in front of him.

“I’m sorry I shouted,” Leslie said. “You frightened me. I’m Leslie; what’s your name?

The youngster sniffled. “My name’s Ben.”

Leslie helped the youngster up. She allowed him to sit in one of the crew jump seats while she scanned the passenger list for his name. It was presumably the boy’s first trip on an aircraft, and he didn’t appear to appreciate it.

Leslie frowned. She examined the passenger list again but couldn’t locate the boy’s name!

It had been much too long since Leslie had to console a youngster. The notion made her wish for her home, but it was not the right moment to think about it. She sat next to Ben, placing her hand on his arm.

“Ben, sweetie, are you lost?” I can help you if you tell me where your family is.”

Ben sobbed. He was gripping a paper bag to his breast, Leslie observed. It made her nervous because of all the horrible stories she’d heard about narcotics being taken on board aircraft.

“What’s in the bag, Ben?” Leslie asked.

“It’s Granny’s medicine,” the youngster said. “She’s going to die without this medicine, and it will be all my fault!”

Leslie was able to persuade Ben into telling her the entire tale over the following four hours. He was the youngest son of a huge family. Ben aspired to be a scientist, but his elder brothers were more interested in sports and getting into fights.

His mother had underestimated the catastrophic consequences of Ben’s ambition to seek a solution for all ailments. He had intended to make his mother proud and receive a hug from her, but she had made him sit in the corner.

“I just want her to look at me with the same love and pride she gives my older brothers when they do well.”

Ben wept. “That’s why I stole the bag of Granny’s medicine.”

When Ben’s grandma became unwell, the family went to visit her in Seattle and bring her medicine. Ben became separated from his family at the airport. He soon found his mother again and followed her to the airport.

“But she wasn’t my mom,” Ben cried. “And now I am on the wrong plane. I intended to be the hero who brought Granny her medicine, but now I’m the villain. She is going to perish because of me.”

Leslie had notified the necessary authorities when the jet landed in Los Angeles. She felt awful for Ben, but she was ready to put the matter behind her. Leslie was horrified to learn of the arrangements the airline had made for Ben.

She glanced at the youngster she now had to care for and share her hotel room with. This was unfair. She had planned to visit many bars in Los Angeles, but now she had to babysit.

“This is the best present I have ever received. “I just hope it’s enough.”
She emailed Amy and her other coworker, Brandon, several times, but neither was ready to look after Ben for her. She had contemplated looking for a nearby babysitter but decided she couldn’t afford it. She needed to save as much as possible to send home.

Leslie’s phone rang while the two were discreetly eating the pizza she had ordered for dinner. She answered it, and the caller’s words made her stomach plummet.

“My baby is sick?” Leslie asked. “What happened, Mother?” Joe was doing great the last time we talked. Did you take him to the doctor?”

“Yes,” Leslie’s mother said.

And she directed us to an expert. We have an appointment scheduled later this week. They indicated a hereditary condition, so you may need to be tested as his mother.”

Leslie said, “Whatever it takes, as long as my Joe gets better.”

Leslie curled into a ball and wailed as she finished the phone conversation. She yearned with all her heart that she could hold her kid in her arms, smell his soft, curly hair, and tell him everything was OK.

Unfortunately, Joe was beyond her reach. Her flying itinerary had not carried her home in over a month. Even though she attempted to escape her love for her kid by partying and getting intoxicated, nothing could stop her heart from suffering.

“Miss Leslie?” Ben approached and placed his hand on her arm. “I think you should have these for your Joe.”

Leslie felt another wave of tears well up as she glanced at the bag of pills Ben presented her.

“If I can’t save my granny, at least I can help you,” he added. “Take them for Joe so he can be healthy again.”

“I have a better idea.” Leslie began typing on her phone. “I’m going to bring you to your grandmother in Seattle, Benjamin. After that, I’m heading home to Missoula to visit my son.”

Leslie arranged Ben’s airline ticket with her own money. She then scheduled leave and agreed to join Ben on his flight while on her way home.

“I’m scared,” Ben said as he and Leslie boarded their aircraft. “What if Granny has already died as a result of my mistake? Mom won’t love me then.”

Leslie ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Your mother has always loved you, Ben, and she always will. This is what parents do. I’m sure she’s been anxious and will be relieved to see you safe.

Ben didn’t appear to believe Leslie, even when his entire family came up to greet him when they arrived in Seattle. Leslie watched as Ben’s mother covered him with kisses and promised never to ignore him again.

Unfortunately, Leslie’s reunion with her family was less enjoyable. She was astounded to see how pale and frail Joe had gotten since she last saw him. He felt so vulnerable in her embrace.

Leslie remained up late that night, chatting to her mother and reviewing the many tests the physicians had performed on Joe. She felt overwhelmed, powerless, and extremely guilty.

When she was finally done for the night, Leslie sneaked into Joe’s room and nestled up next to him. She buried her face in his soft, coconut-scented hair, promising him, herself, and God that she would do anything to see her son well and happy again.

Joe’s health deteriorated over time. The doctor could not determine what was wrong with the youngster. Meanwhile, he seemed to become weaker by the day.

Leslie requested more days on her leave, but the airline was not very accommodating. They refused to compensate her for the time off, despite Joe’s illness.

After another week of caring for Joe and paying for doctor appointments, money was running low. Leslie’s mother was on a pension and had always relied on Leslie to cover Joe’s expenses while she cared for the youngster. Now the women had to decide how to continue.

“Maybe I can get a job here,” Leslie remarked. “Maybe something that pays better.”

“It’s worth looking into at any rate,” Leslie’s mother said, shrugging. “If it comes to it, I can sell the house.”

Just then, a knock on the door altered everything.

Leslie opened the door and saw a familiar face looking back at her.

“Ben?” She then noticed that the family she knew from the airport was with him. “What’s going on?”

“I have something for you and Joe.” Ben handed Leslie an envelope.

Leslie opened the envelope. The inside contained a check. Leslie’s mouth fell when she realized how much was on it.

“What is this?” “I can’t accept it,” she said. “It’s over a hundred thousand dollars!”

“We want you to have it.” Ben’s mother came forward. “We started a crowdfunding campaign for my mother’s treatment, but she…” The woman put her palm to her lips. “She passed away a few days ago.”

Ben’s father moved up to greet his wife, who fell into tears.”We decided together that we should give you the money, for Joe,” Ben said.

“We announced what we planned to do on the crowdfunding campaign too,” says Ben’s father, “so everything is above board.”

Leslie held the check to her bosom, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you all very much,” she wept. “This is the best present I have ever received. “I just hope it’s enough.”

Ben surged forward, hugging Leslie’s legs. “I’m confident it’ll be plenty! And when Joe is well, I’ll come back to play with him.”

Leslie smiled as she ruffled the boy’s hair. “You’ll always be welcome to visit here, Ben.”

The check was almost just what Leslie needed. Joe returned to his former self a month later, following several physicians’ and therapies.

As Leslie watched him play with the neighbor’s dog on the front lawn, it was difficult to envision a time when he wasn’t strong and full of joy.

“And it’s all thanks to Ben,” she mumbled.

The familiar sound of a jet flying overhead attracted Leslie’s gaze upwards. She’d shortly return to work. She’d also just thought of the ideal way to thank Ben’s folks for their kindness.

She picked out her phone and began making calls. The next day, she contacted Ben’s mother and informed her that the airline had granted her family a significant discount on all tickets for the rest of their lives.