Arlene sent her seven-year-old, Justin, to visit his father, Pierce, in Orlando. Pierce waited for his son in anticipation of all the fun they would have, but his flight had allegedly arrived, and his son was nowhere to be found. That’s when both parents started worrying and realized their shocking mistake.
Arlene and her son, Justin, were at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. The seven-year-old was about to board a flight to Orland, Florida, where his father, Pierce, awaited him. It was the first time he had traveled as an unaccompanied minor, but luckily, the airline attendant made her feel safe.
“It’s going to be alright. Many minors travel alone around the country, and we should reach your husband in time,” she stated. “He’ll have an escort, and this flight is best because there are no connections. Everything will be perfect.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Arlene nodded, her face filled with emotion. Justin might be growing, but he was still a child. It was hard to let him go, mainly because he hadn’t seen his father in years. After their bitter divorce, Pierce moved from Virginia to Orlando, Florida, and he was busy most of the time.
“How is that possible?” Arlene wailed, almost starting to cry from the worry and exasperation. But something occurred to her at that moment. “Give me a second.”
However, his company had just given him a two-week vacation, and he invited Justin to come to spend time with him. They were going to the theme parks, so that Arlene couldn’t say no. Her son was too excited because he loved everything relating to superheroes and dinosaurs. It was his dream.
But now, she was almost regretting it. “Ok, Justin. You’re going to with this lady and get on the plane. Listen to the adults around. Don’t run off from your escort, and you’ll reach your dad soon. When you land in Orlando, you call me immediately. And then, call me again when you meet your father. Understand?” she requested, kneeling in front of the kid and holding his arms tenderly.
“Yes, Mom!” he replied, smiling and doing a makeshift military salute. This kid had a great sense of humor. He was going to love that trip.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Ok. Love you. Go on!” she continued and watched as Justin grabbed the attendant’s hand and entered the gate.
She thought about leaving but sat down at an airport café. She was going to wait for the plane to take off. But once she saw that the flight had taken off, she decided to stay and wait for Justin’s call if anything happened. After all, the flight was less than two hours long. The time would pass quickly.
***
Meanwhile, Pierce was waiting for Justin at Orlando International Airport, and he couldn’t wait. He was just as excited as the kid to see all the attractions at the park. It was crazy that he had lived in the city for years but had yet to attend. His work kept him way too busy. This trip was going to be amazing.
He arrived an hour before Justin’s flight and went to the arrival area to wait for him. Finally, the flight landed, and Pierce got closer to the gate so his son could see him immediately. “I should have made a sign,” he muttered to himself as he saw other people waiting for their loved ones. It was too late now. He stayed in the front at all times.
However, many passengers came out, and there was no Justin. According to the unaccompanied minor service, Arlene said that he would have top priority. So, someone should have brought him out already. He didn’t want to call her yet to avoid worrying her. Maybe, Justin had to go to the bathroom, which could explain the delay. He would wait for a while.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
But at one point, no other passengers were coming out of the arrival area. It had been an hour since the plane landed. It shouldn’t take that long. He approached someone from the airline and started asking questions. An attendant came to assist him.
“I’m sorry, sir. There was no one by the name of Justin on that flight. We have no record of an unaccompanied minor serviced hired for it either,” the attendant, shocking Pierce.
“That’s impossible. Please, check again,” he demanded, trying to stay calm, but the sweat on his forehead gave away his fears.
The assistant typed away on her computer, and Pierce’s phone rang. It was Arlene. Hopefully, she knew what was going on. “Hello?”
“Hey, Pierce. Why didn’t you guys call me when Justin arrived? I told him to call me when the plane landed and when you met with him,” Arlene wondered, and he could tell that she was agitated for some reason.
“Arlene, listen. I’m sorry to say this, but Justin has not arrived. An attendant here said that he was not on the flight. I don’t understand what’s going on,” he was forced to reveal, and Arlene yelled in his ear.
“No! That’s crazy! NO! Tell the attendant to check again!” she started yelling. “I’m going to talk to someone on my end too. I’m still at the airport.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Ok. Listen, calm down. Everything will be alright. There must be a mix-up or something,” he said, trying to calm his ex-wife because he knew she was prone to hysterics.
“I’m not calming down! This is our child, Pierce! Talk to you later!” she screamed and hung up.
“Sir, like I said. There was no Justin on the flight. There’s nothing I can do. Are you sure this is the airline?” the attendant asked.
“Yes! It’s the only flight that arrived at this time from Virginia! My son was on that flight. My ex-wife just confirmed. Please, help me, miss. He’s only seven. Can you call anyone? Should I call the police?” Pierce started asking questions rapidly. The attendant sighed and grabbed her phone.
***
“Justin, where are you? Why didn’t you call me sooner? What’s happening?” Arlene asked desperately on her phone.
“Mom, we have been trying to find Dad for hours, and he’s nowhere. Did you talk to him?” the little boy said through the phone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Your father is right at the arrival area. He’s just as worried as I am. Please, give the phone to your escort,” Arlene requested and demanded an explanation from the woman, who only reiterated what Justin said earlier. There was no Pierce anywhere in the airport.
She told them to wait until she called again and dialed her ex’s number. “Pierce, Justin called me and said they’ve been looking for you for a long time. What’s going on?” she said, one hand running through her hair in frustration. She knew Justin was safe, but there was no reason why they couldn’t find each other.
“There’s no way, Arlene. That’s impossible. People here are saying he was not on the flight!” Pierce stated.
“How is that possible?” Arlene wailed, almost starting to cry from the worry and exasperation. But something occurred to her at that moment. “Give me a second.”
She went to her emails where she had sent Pierce the flight details. However, she had written them instead of sending a screenshot, and she suddenly realized her big mistake. “Pierce,” she started, again putting the phone in her ear. “Where are you?”
“What do you mean? I’m at Orlando International Airport. Why?” Pierce questioned, confused by her words. But something clicked in his brain at that moment.
“Justin arrived at Orlando Sanford International Airport!” Arlene yelled, and Pierce took off in a run.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Jesus! Arlene, why didn’t you say that in your email! Most flights got to MCO!” he scolded her breathlessly as he ran to his car. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes!”
While Pierce was on his way, Arlene called Justin and explained to his escort what had happened. She was relieved too, and they waited for Pierce to arrive.
Less than an hour later, Justin called her. “I’m with Dad, Mom! Thank you for helping me! I’ll send you pics of Disney soon!”
Arlene hung up the phone with her son and breathed deeply as if she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs. Finally, she walked to her car.
What can we learn from this story?
- You must send all the details of a flight and check several times. These poor parents worried so much because they had not communicated well enough. Luckily, nothing happened, and they resolved the issue.
- It’s always best to fly with your kids. While an unaccompanied minor service is perfect for busy parents and other situations, Arlene should have traveled with her son if she was going to worry so much. She would have avoided worrying so much.
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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who adopted a boy she found on the side of the road, and his father showed up years later.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
90-year-old Joan Collins stuns in sizzling swimsuit photo
Using any yardstick you use, Joan Collins is unquestionably a legend.
It’s safe to say that, as she approaches her 90s, her most glamorous and flamboyant days are behind her, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped having fun and flaunting her physique to the world.
Joan Collins has many lessons to teach about grace, elegance, and proper behavior for even the most ‘new’ superstars. What an incredible life this woman has led and continues to lead!
The Paddington, London-born actress of English descent is primarily remembered for her role as Dynasty’s Alexis Carrington Colby.
Dynasty turned Joan into a global celebrity, and in 1984 it was the most watched television program in the US. She was making $15,000 every episode back then. Every week, about 21 million homes tuned in to see her, eager to see what her egotistical and vicious persona would come up with.
“She was the initial strong woman on television.” And for that, I took a lot of heat. She’s such a vixen, so spiteful, and such a ballbreaker! Joan said to CBS in 2019 that “you know, I was just standing up for myself as an independent woman!”
Amazingly, over 70 years after making her on-screen debut, Collins is still employed in the entertainment sector.
Wikipedia states that she starred in two film-related projects in 2022, Tomorrow Morning and The Gentle Sex, and that she is currently filming In Bed with the Duchess.
She uses social media quite frequently as well.
For most of the US, last month was unseasonably chilly; storms delivered exceptionally low temperatures to many locations. However, Joan Collins was all about the heat.
According to sources, the legendary actress thought that the holidays would be the perfect time to post a picture of herself and her 57-year-old husband, Percy Gibson, practically sizzling.
Many people anticipate that at Christmas, family would gather around the fireplace and exchange gifts while the chilly breeze from outside the window blows in.
However, Joan Collins discovered that she was deviating from the custom this Christmas.On December 26, she posted to her roughly 300k followers, saying, “Had a terrific #christmasday.”
“I had a great lunch at the Bricusses after swimming in 82F in Beverly Hills—thank you, Evie and Adam Bricusse!”
Reactions to Collins’ chic leopard print swimsuit were swift. Even though the actress is about to turn ninety, she looked simply lovely.
She was pictured next to her spouse Percy in another picture; the two of them have been together since 2002.
All told, Collins has been married five times. The first marriage lasted four years, to actor Maxwell Reed. The second marriage was to singer-songwriter Anthony Newley. After she wed billionaire Ronald S. Kass, Newley welcomed Swedish pop sensation Peter Holm into her family.
“I did that too many times and I regret several of my marriages. I made a mistake. I don’t regret my marriage to Tony [Newley], though, as I had two amazing kids, Tara and Alexander, and one gorgeous daughter, Kathy, from my marriage to Ron [Kass]. Joan stated last year, “I truly regret getting married to Peter Holm, a Swede.
Collins claims that she has formed the closest relationship with Percy. She disclosed details about their connection during the pandemic.
“I’ve realized how strong our relationship really is because of being in lockdown,” the woman remarked. “I used to like traveling, hosting parties at the villa, and interacting with people, but due to constraints, it’s now just Percy and I. The best aspect is that we are conspirators, partners in crime.
Whatever others may say, Joan Collins is a legend, an icon, and incredibly beautiful for her age!
If you’re a fan of Joan’s as well or have liked any of her earlier work, do share this post.
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