My legs shook and I grabbed onto Papa’s hand.  It was warm and comforting.  The cool breeze in the fall afternoon floated through me.  Leaves were scattered on the grass, and soon my hand was warmer from Papa’s.

“Can we not go?” I whimpered.  My heart was racing, going faster and faster every second that passed by.  Papa shook his head and I snuggled into his chest.  He rubbed it with reassurance, but my nerves kept building up.  My uncle’s house was there.  Standing in front of me.  The man’s hobby had frightened me since I first really thought about what I was going to do.  I’d heard stories about his jumping since I can’t even remember, and I know he loves the feeling of the air swooping past him.  Now it was my 14th birthday, the day I was always planning on doing it.  The day I had been waiting for forever.  Now it was here.  And I’d just wished it would go away.

“Abilene? You ready? We need to go in now,” Papa whispered into my ear.  My body filled with anger.  “Papa! You know I don’t like my full name! It’s Abby!” I exclaimed. He nodded and sighed as he took my hand and walked into the house.  The red paint was peeling off and the shutters were closed. As we walked into the front hall it was filled from bottom to top with stuff.  “Is that you? Richard? Abby?” A scratchy voice called out from somewhere under a pile of furniture.  I looked over at Papa and made a face, like “See, he knows what I like to be called.”  A man came out around the corner with a scruffy goatee and a rugged white tee and dirty jeans. That was him, Uncle Nolan.

“Hi there sweet pea!  Can we get you ready?  Or are you ready already, may I ask?  This is the big day!” he said with glee.  I tried my best to form a smile, but I bet I looked like a complete dope with my mouth trying to curve up.  I nodded and I followed my uncle through the crazy maze of a house.

“So how have you been, Uncle Nolan?” I asked, trying to stall as we got into our gear and walked out the back door.  The forest green jeep was parked there and we climbed in.  Papa had decided to meet us there so he could see us on the ground once we jumped.  Oh my god, just saying that made me get the jitters.

“I’ve been good, sweet pea, just doing the normal, falling out of planes,” he joked as he chuckled. I tried to laugh but all that came was a nervous giggle.  His eyebrows shot up and I knew he was staring at me but I shook it off.  I needed to get myself together.  The jeep pulled up and I heard a loud roar.  This was happening and it was happening now.

“Follow me sweet pea!” Uncle Nolan shouted over the sound of the plane.  I obeyed and scurried on after him.  I watched hesitantly as he pulled on his helmet and I did the same.  He jumped into the plane so I did the same too.  I couldn’t hear a thing except for that loud engine sound.  I saw the pilot give a thumbs up and Uncle Nolan gave one back.  My heart began racing again, faster and faster.  It soon was hard to breathe.  My knees shook with fear.  Every bone in my body was shaking for that matter.  So this was it.  This was fear.  I needed to get off this thing!  I was about to let my uncle know I couldn’t do it when the plane began to rise.  As we rose higher and higher, I felt more and more scared to death.  I glanced at Uncle Nolan and he grinned at me.  Grinned!!  I was barely alive and he just sat there grinning.  This was a hobby for him, but for me this was my worst nightmare.

“C’mon sweet pea!  It’s time!  Here’s what I want you to do; grab my hands and hold on for your life.  When I start to let go, I want you to pull this tab on your suit and a parachute will open.  From there, just fall with glee!” he yelled over the plane’s noise, showing me where the tab was.  Was this going to be that bad?  Hey, maybe not.  Maybe this could be my new hobby.  Nah, I don’t really think so, that’s going a little too far.  I thought, “Let's just get this over with.”

I grabbed onto Uncle Nolan’s hand and I stood at the edge of the plane.  The ground was so far away I could barely see it.  I thought I was going to puke.  “Let’s go!” he shouted. Before I could give it a second thought, I was out of the plane grabbing for dear life onto my Uncle’s hands and falling into nothingness.

The world became silent.  I closed my eyes and I felt weightless.  I was flying.  There was a wonderful rush… and I loved it!  I truly loved it.  Wow, I really never thought I would be saying I loved freefalling from a plane a thousand miles up.  Now this was something new.  But I did; I loved it.  Soon, I felt Uncle Nolan’s grip loosen and I pulled the tab on my suit.  Suddenly, I slowed and open my eyes to find myself much closer to ground.  It was about to be over.  My feet landed surprisingly softly on the grass and the rush was gone.  Disappeared.  No more.

“How was it, Abby?” I spun around to see Papa.  He had called me by the name I wanted, which should have made me happy; but for some reason, it didn’t.  I think I liked it when he called me by my full name, ‘cause he was there for me and that’s all I ever really wanted.  I was lucky I even had a father to call me by any name.  I ran up to him from where I was standing and wrapped my arms tight around him.

”It was the best time I ever had in my entire life!   I love you.  And Papa?" I added, “My name is Abilene now.”