"The Last Ticket"
London, England
July 25, 1983
Dear Folks,
My first glimpse of the foreign part of my worldwalk was not of the jagged coastline of Ireland as originally expected but, rather, of hedge-rowed meadows in south England.
I had planned to go directly from Boston to Dublin, Ireland. However that plan was discarded at the last moment, when I discovered I could reach the British Isles for less than $175--$23 from Boston to Newark International Airport, and then $149 from there to London--on a new economy airline called PEOPLExpress.
I couldn't resist trying the economy airline--especially when regular airlines wanted nearly $500 for a one-way ticket from Boston to Dublin. So, true to the spirit of the trek, I decided to take the economy flight. There was a grave risk, however: the airline's once-daily flights to London were reportedly booked solid until October. That could mean I'd have to wait on standby at the Newark terminal, hoping that someone would cancel and free a seat for me.
London is a popular vacation spot for Americans, so I was apprehensive about the number of other standby passengers I'd find. I visualized waiting at the terminal for several days. Each week there were only the five daily flights to London.
As it turned out, my luck continued to be as good as ever.
No sooner had I walked up to the ticket counter for the PEOPLExpress's London flights, and placed my backpack beside all the other luggage piled there, than a sunburnt middle-aged man in shorts and sneakers approached me. "Would you be wanting a reservation, chap?" he asked in a voice heavy with an English accent.
"Why, yes!" I answered eagerly.
He laughed at the enthusiasm I was showing at such a late hour. It was nearly midnight. With a long smile, he said, "Me son Michael and me daughter Laraine and I come to try standby, too, and we found out at one of their other ticket counters that they's 'ad four cancellations on this flight to London. If ya 'urry, perhaps ya can grab the last one!"
I glanced at the many other standby hopefuls, dozing in chairs or on the floor, waiting for the London ticket counter to open at 4 a.m. Surely someone else has had the sense to ask at one of the other ticket counters, I thought.
His beautiful daughter started tugging at my arm. "Come! You'd best 'urry!"
I followed her through the terminal to the airline's ticket counter for their Melbourne, Florida, flights. Incredibly, it was still open at such a late hour. Immediately I asked the clerk if the airline's flight to London had any available seats.
He checked his computer and replied with a flair of triumph, "Yes, we do! One, to be exact."
"I'll take it!"
Laraine smiled. Her father laughed. Even the ticket clerk seemed to take delight in my reaction. With a flourish he handed me my boarding pass and said, "Your flight attendant will collect the fare after you take off. You can pay with cash, with a personal check, or with traveler's checks. Have a nice flight."
Twelve hours later, as our stuffed 747 cruised above the Atlantic at 35,000 feet, I asked Laraine why her father had picked me, out of all the other standby people, to tell about the remaining cancellation.
She pushed her long blond hair to one side, shrugged, and said with what I took to be a bit of English humor, "Why you were the only one awake..."
Steven
Comments
i use to live in england so it is great to know
Posted by: Poppie Wilson | August 26, 2005 5:00 PM
Hi Steve,
I don't remember that one before !!
I thought I knew all your stories off by heart but this I never heard.
All the best to you and Darci,
Regards, Aussie Peg.
Posted by: Peg Matthews | August 26, 2005 6:41 PM
Dear Poppie,
I absolutely love your name! It is very English sounding. Are you British? If so, where was your childhood home? What was it like? Do you live in the States now? What do you think of the States? Please finish your comment. For some reason only the first few words came through.
Steven
Posted by: steven newman | August 26, 2005 11:04 PM
Dear Peg,
For a lady over 80 years young, you do indeed have a great memory. And so I am quite surprised this little anecdote slipped your mind. The above story is on page 29, in the Letters From Steven book, right beside the full-page photo of the walkway in the England farm's fence.
Take note that there will be several stories in the next 12 months that were unpublished in the Capper's magazine, but were included in the book. These stories were from my diaries and are an added treat to my many faithful fans. The next story, slated for the website on Sept. 3, will be a classic example of one of those diary stories.
Steven
Posted by: steven newman | August 26, 2005 11:16 PM
Dear Steven,
I LOVE your stories! You're always so lucky! Are you still traveling today??? Just wondering ^^ You're stories are really well written and i often come and read them. Laraine was right, you are funny! You came to my school, mason intermediate last year, you were so cool!
Posted by: Lynne | August 27, 2005 10:46 PM
Dear Lynne,
Such wonderful enthusiasm you have! But then all the students at Mason have such great attitudes. Mason is the best! Am I still treveling? Oh yes. I just spent all of June in Japan, hiking to the last 24 of 88 ancient Buddhist temples that I have been exploring. I plan to put some stories and photos on this website about that project. So please watch for it. All the best at school this year.
Steven
Posted by: steven newman | August 28, 2005 12:55 PM
Hi Steve, Hope you and Darci can make it out to Oregon....still read your book every year; makes about the 14th time. Have given the paperback (Worldwalker) to about 4 or 5 people and have loaned my own to others. Also love the video! One of my favorite things to look at when nothing on the TV. Take care and keep writing!
Pat Snow
Posted by: Pat Snow | August 28, 2005 1:52 PM
Dear Steve,
I'm soooo glad that you still remember coming to my school ^^ I'm no longer in Mason Intermediate school, i'm in Mason Middle school now. I'm glad you think people in Mason are nice. I've heard so much about your book! I haven't seen it though..... i'll have to ask some friends about that! How were the temples??? I've been to a lot of them when i was back in china 5 years ago. Most people from where i'm from believe in Buddhism, but i don't. I'll watch for your stories and photos ^^
~*Lynne*~
Posted by: Lynne | August 28, 2005 9:14 PM
Another great story. We never get tired of rereading them. Some people are just lucky aren't they. They get the last spot in the car park and the last two concert tickets to hear the Soweto Gospel choir. This happened to me this week and it makes me feel once again that life is good.
Graeme spoke, with photos, at his Rotary Club about our latest trip and they send their kind regards to you and Darci.
Cheers for now
C&G
Posted by: Chris and Graeme | August 30, 2005 6:54 AM