MinMin: The Pilot


I look at the array of buttons, switches and knobs in front of me – my training never mentioned this many. What did the bright green one do again? And the large lever? That was over there by the edge in my training, not in the middle where it is now.

Take the new model, they said, you’ll be OK, they said. I’m obviously not OK. The radio doesn’t work – not needed, we’ll be monitoring everything, they said. Just steer, they said, the course is already set… steer? With what? And what course?

What does that beeping mean? Ah – the monitor has switched on. Ah – foreign language – I can’t read the text. The beeps are getting louder – closer together.

I’ll pull this middle lever here, it looks like the one in the flight academy’s simulator that lifted or lowered the thing, maybe it wasn’t the one by the edge after all. Good, that seemed to work, it feels as though I’m going up – and the monitor’s gone off again.

Wait a minute – yes, I remember. When the bright green light comes on, press the button. That will command the cameras to take their shots. I wish I knew where I was. And why do they want photos of the fields around here from up in the skies anyway? It’s kind of odd, if you ask me. I only came in to work on reception, and here I am, day one, flying this balloon.


Posted for Doug’s Minmin Challenge. This week, the prompt is ‘Spy Balloon’. The requirement is to post no more than 250 words.

19 responses to “MinMin: The Pilot”

  1. CMStewart avatar

    “Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?” Not this time. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Good choice, CM… especially this balloon! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Doug Jacquier avatar

    Love it, Tom. Sounds a lot like Elon Musk when he took over Twitter. 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom avatar

      I can see that, Doug! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Chris Hall avatar

    Up and away!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Tom avatar

      It sounds good, Chris… but maybe not in that balloon!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. jenne49 avatar

    I love the confusion of your main character that comes over in this, Tom. A really good take on the prompt – but also anybody’s first day in a new job where they’re asked to do the unexpected and feel they have to give it a go.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Jenne… and in regards to your last point, not necessarily their first day (or maybe that’s just me! 😊)

      Like

      1. jenne49 avatar

        Good point, Tom. In my case, any Sunday evening. One of the most joyous things about retiring was relaxed Sunday evenings!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Tom avatar

          Oh to have a confusing relaxed time! 😊

          Like

  5. clark avatar

    I’d say, in un-invited commentary perhaps the antagonist just, ‘wing it’
    …ah! the prompt word. lol

    (but, now that I’ve used the idiom ‘just wing it’ it’s got me wondering)

    will be back it’n it’s anything cool

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom avatar

      Wingin’ it’s a good way to get through, Clark… and it works some of the time, too! 🙂

      Like

  6. europasicewolf avatar

    Hope that balloon 🎈 wasn’t flying over the USA! You know what happens to stray balloons!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Apparently so, Icewolf. This was one of the news stories that filtered to me… I deliberately avoid the news.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. europasicewolf avatar

        Yes…the news is the root of all evil 😈 Tom😅

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Tom avatar

          It doesn’t help with the positive Feel Good vibes, that’s for sure! 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          1. europasicewolf avatar

            I don’t think it’s meant to😅

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Tom avatar

              True. 👍

              Liked by 1 person

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