The Application

I flew across the country recently and because I used some kind of “miles” the trip from Seattle Washington to Charlottesville Virginia went through Dallas Texas where I had a lay over of about four hours. Time enough. I used the rest room. I found my departure gate on a big screen. I rode the inter-terminal train. I found a seat in the appropriate waiting area and then had to move because someone had left their luggage unattended. I moved three gates away and found a new seat among a bunch of folks about to depart for some place other than Dallas. And it was sitting there that I heard the young man on his cell phone. You know in such a setting you don’t need to listen in order to hear.

It was clear in a moment that he was talking to someone about a job. He was about 30, dressed in clothes that spoke of blue collar work. He spoke well and steadily. He had done some work for his listener and he wanted to make clear that he had enjoyed it and was up for more. He would be willing to hire on for more work even knowing there would not be much to do in November and December. With the holidays and such, a little more family time would be fine. He could take private flying lessons if that would make him more valuable. He was aware there was no specific need for a pilot, but maybe that would just be an extra skill he could bring. The call lasted around ten minutes in my presence and had begun before I arrived. He would stay in touch just in case.

It had sounded pretty good to me and the person on the other end had stayed on the phone for some time apparently not brushing him off, but when he hung up the young man’s body language changed completely. His shoulders sagged and he slouched in his seat as he tucked his phone into his pants. I wondered how deep his despair ran, how much he owes, who else in this world is dependent on him. Soon his flight was called and off he went to face his particular reality, just one in millions.