Chapter 26 - The Day Oliver Wore a Uniform
Oliver was eight when his school held Career Day.
Parents expected astronaut costumes.
Doctors.
Firefighters.
Pilots.
Oliver walked downstairs wearing navy trousers, a white shirt, and a small vest.
Emilia looked at him.
“What are you?”
“A flight attendant.”
Carter nearly spilled his coffee.
Oliver frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Carter recovered.
“Excellent profession.”
Oliver had chosen it because Rachel had visited his class the month before.
His presentation included three index cards.
Flight attendants keep people safe.
They help passengers.
You should listen when they tell you things.
Then he added a fourth card without telling his parents.
Being served by someone does not make you their boss as a human.
Emilia stared at him.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I made it.”
Carter looked proud enough to purchase the school.
Emilia noticed.
“Do not donate a building.”
“I said nothing.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I was thinking perhaps a modest library.”
“No.”
Career Day became unexpectedly emotional when Oliver’s teacher asked him why he chose the role.
He answered:
“Because my mommy wore a uniform once and someone thought it made her less important.”
The teacher glanced at Emilia.
Oliver continued.
“But it showed who the mean person was.”
A few parents knew the story.
Most did not.
That pleased Emilia.
Oliver was no longer the little boy from the viral airfield story.
He was simply Oliver.
After school, Rachel met them for ice cream.
She had recently expanded her consultancy to Europe.
“You look official,” she told him.
“I am.”
“Did you learn emergency procedures?”
Oliver looked alarmed.
“No.”
“Then we have work to do.”
Carter whispered to Emilia, “We’ve lost him.”
Emilia smiled.
“To aviation?”
“To competent women.”
May you like
She raised an eyebrow.
“He was born into that problem.”
