Confessions of a Hostie (19 page)

On every safari I've been on, I have been lucky enough to see lions. Of the African Big Five game animals, leopards have been the most elusive. I have seen a leopard once, but it was up in a tree, some distance away. I tell Dean that if none of the crew members are going on safari, I will do a day trip to a lion park just outside Jo'burg where they have cubs.

‘You can even pat and play with the cubs,' I say with childlike excitement.

Just as we are deep in safari-conversation, there is a ‘bing' and the call-light indicator lights up blue. I look down the cabin, though I already know whose call light it is. So does Dean.

'I guess you better see what Her Majesty wants this time. We can chat later if that is OK?'

‘Sure, we've only a mere ten or so hours to go, so there might be time for talking,' I joke.

As he walks away, he turns to whisper, ‘Good luck with her royal painness'.

Finally. Someone with the same biting wit as myself.

doctor, doctor, give me the news …

Dean did come back to the bar for a chat, and I must say it was delightful.

He is now having a snooze. The crew having the first break are in the crew-rest bunks, leaving Ryan and I to manage the front. I am keeping an eye on Mr. Weiss in Seat 5J. He has barely eaten anything and has been asleep for most of the flight. Even in deep sleep, he looks unwell.

I realise that the call-light hasn't gone off in some time. Could it be?

I sneak out into the cabin and flash my recently whitened teeth when I see that His and Her Majesty are sound asleep. He is snoring, and her false teeth have slipped a fraction.

She doesn't look so regal now, I chuckle to myself.

I grab a magazine and sit down on my crew jump-seat for a well-earned reading session. I never read gossip magazines at home, but relish the opportunity to do so on aircrafts. At 35,000 feet, for some reason, I'm really interested in finding out which Hollywood celebrity is doing whom. I have only flicked a few pages when I hear a guttural groan from the cabin. I jump to my feet and see Mr. Weiss clutching his chest, right where the heart is.

Oh my God, oh my God!

I yell out to Ryan at the top of my voice and then rush to help Mr. Weiss. I have no idea if Ryan has heard me or not, but I step straight into First-Aid mode.

‘Can you speak?' I ask Mr. Weiss.

He can't, but he makes it extremely clear that he is in excruciating pain. I bring his seat a little more upright and start unbuttoning his shirt buttons, whilst turning around to see if Ryan is anywhere to be seen. He is on his way.

Thank God.

When he arrives I don't need to explain the situation as it is obvious.

I take charge and bark, ‘Get the defibrillator, and see if there is a doctor onboard!'

We have a heart defibrillator onboard these days. Apparently if the heart goes into defibrillation this machine is the one device the patient needs. Forget all those TV medical shows where the patient clutches their chest, stops breathing, has no pulse, and a few thumps on the chest is all it takes to magically bring the patient to consciousness. ‘Thank you for saving my life, Doc,' the patient would then say. The chances of that happening in real life are about the same as the actor portraying the patient winning an Academy Award for his performance.

Ryan races away as I try to make Mr. Weiss as comfortable as I can. He is still conscious, I tell myself, trying to feel strong.

Just then I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see the concerned, yet reassuring face of Dean.

‘Danielle, I am a medical doctor. I'll take over from here. Let your manager know I am here. Please do bring the defibrillator, but hurry back because I need your help.'

I don't have time to think. I scurry toward Ryan.

We return to Dean – sorry Dr. Dean – and find him kneeling next to Mr. Weiss, talking to him in a soft and reassuring voice whilst checking his pulse. Dean subtly acknowledges our return and continues to monitor his patient. Mr. Weiss appears to no longer be in pain, but is still clutching his chest and looks exhausted.

Dean turns to us, ‘I am positive he has had a heart-attack, but it appears to be over now. Please keep the defib handy. If you could bring me an oxygen bottle and some extra blankets, that would be great.'

I jump in, ‘I'll get them'.

When I return I assist Dean in hooking up the oxygen to Mr. Weiss while Ryan places the blankets over him. ‘I'll see if we can get onto Global Lifeline,' Ryan tells Dr. Dean and then leaves.

Global Lifeline is, as the name infers, a medical response organisation that we can get in touch with in situations just like this. Dean has obviously liaised with Ryan to inform the flight deck of the state of affairs. I've been in a couple of medical emergencies before. Each time we have diverted to the nearest airport, making sure that the appropriate medical facilities are nearby. This time we are in the middle of nowhere. A million different questions are going through my mind. I could ask any one of them to Dean, but instead I just sit by his side. Although I am not really doing anything, I am there. If he needs my help, he will ask.

Ryan returns to tell Dean that the flight crew is trying to call Global Lifeline and that they will relay the information when they have an answer.

‘I just need to pass on some additional information to the pilots. Now, Dr. Weily, you are a medical doctor?'

Dean replies, ‘That's right. I'm a GP, a general practitioner.'

Ryan continues with a series of questions, obviously intended to cover us legally and ethically.

I see that Mr. Weiss is very drowsy, but appears stable, so I duck away to get a glass of water for both Ryan and Dean.

While I am away, I go to the boss's work station and look at his copy of the passenger list.

4J – Dr. Dean Weily.

I know the name Weily is reasonably common, but I have usually seen it spelled ‘Wiley', ‘Willey', ‘Wyley', and ‘Wylie', but rarely ‘Weily', the same spelling as Danny's surname. I am so curious to ask Dean whether he's related to Danny, but I know that now is not the appropriate time to ask.

Dean and Ryan decide to move the passenger in 5K to 4J, so Dean can sit next to Mr. Weiss and monitor him as well as keep an eye on the oxygen cylinders. Each bottle lasts for just over an hour, and we still have a number of hours left to finish with this trip. With Dean sitting in the window seat, it makes it very difficult for me to communicate with him, although I give him all the assistance I possibly can in making Mr. Weiss comfortable. I even forgo my time-off to help.

At one point the call-light comes on, and I investigate. Mrs.Vandenberg wants to know what all the noise and commotion was about. When I tell her that a man has just had a heart attack, but he seems OK now, she says, without one morsel of empathy, ‘Can you keep the noise down then?'

When we do another meal service before landing, I contemplate doing something evil. I think about getting some eye-drops and putting a few drops in Her Majesty's meal. I have heard this has no long-term health effects, but acts as one almighty instant laxative. As wicked as some of my thoughts can be and as intense as my disdain for this woman is, I just can't go through with it.

i knew he looked familiar

Ryan has chatted with Dean throughout the flight and been updating the techies about Mr. Weiss's condition. Dean chooses not to eat and continues to keep a constant vigil over his patient.

I really want to ask Dean if he knows Danny Weily, but I'm feeling just too awkward to ask under the circumstances.

‘Do you need to make a connecting flight to Tanzania tonight?' is all I can muster when I do get a chance to talk to him.

‘No, I am staying in Johannesburg tonight and then fly out in the morning. I am actually staying at your crew hotel.'

‘How does he know where the usually stay?' I think, but still don't ask.

Damn it, ask Danielle, ask!

I ponder momentarily, before my curiosity gets the better of me, ‘How do you know about our crew hotel?'

He is also trying to be mindful of Mr. Weiss, but answers anyway, ‘My brother organised it, and he is—'

I interrupt him, ‘Danny Weily? Oh my God, you are Danny's brother!'

Dean smiles, but tries to be restrained, ‘You know Danny?'

This is not really the right time or place for me to jump up and down and yell ‘Oh my god! I just don't believe it!' I simply and coolly say, ‘I know Danny very well. Listen, we'll talk later. Have you made transport plans to get to the hotel when we land?'

He shakes his head.

‘I'll arrange for you to come with us on the crew bus.'

He is appreciative. Before I walk away, I direct my attention to Mr. Weiss. He is still on oxygen and very weak. He can understand what we are saying, but does not have the strength to speak.

I talk with Ryan and inform that Dr. Weily is staying at the same hotel as us, and Ryan is more than happy for him to catch the crew bus if the captain is OK with it. Ryan also tells me that he has already gifted Dr. Weily a nice bottle of champagne, as thanks for all the help he has done for us. I don't tell Ryan, but I had also slipped Dean some French and a fine bottle of red as well. Dean is going to walk off looking like a pack horse.

As soon as we land, medical staff are on hand, and with the assistance of Dean, they leave with Mr. Weiss before any of the other passengers can disembark. Dean returns to pick up his bag (and additional bags, compliments of the airline) and I tell him to wait by the luggage carousel for me. From there, I can direct him to our crew bus.

I notice that Dean offers to let all the crew sit down before he has boarded the bus. Dean appears incredibly savvy with regard to crew etiquette. When I wait back with him, he insists that I sit down first. Although there are other spare seats available, he chooses to sit next to me.

‘You've been on a crew bus before haven't you?'

He smiles, ‘How did you know?'

‘I notice things. Have you been on any trips with Danny?'

‘Several.'

As a crew member we get fantastic staff travel benefits. We are also allowed to nominate one other person to receive the same benefits. I've had my mum on my staff benefits for a few years. However, she has been away with me only once, and I am considering offering the benefits to Helen instead. I am mindful of the fact that Helen is a mother of two, which makes it difficult for her to get away, but I know how much she would love it.

Dean is on Danny's staff benefits, but based on what he is saying, I gather he has only recently taken these trips.

I do some calculations in my head: he has only recently started travelling the world; he is probably three or four years younger than Danny, he is going to Africa for a few months doing volunteer work; he has no ring on his finger. I deduce that he is recently separated or divorced.

I probably shouldn't try to play amateur psychologist, but I would bet my still new D&G jeans (which are now my favourites) that he has only recently become single.

When we reach the hotel, some of the crew members are going down to the bar to unwind and to take advantage of our free welcome drink. Dean asks me if I am going too. I wasn't, but I am easily persuaded once I find out that he's planning to go.

Most of the crew turn up at the bar; this is a bit unusual as many say they will, but rarely do they come. This is surely antisocial behaviour, but after a seventeen- or eighteen hour working day and enduring numerous time-changes, sometimes you have all the right intentions to be social, but can't follow through; fatigue hits you like a sledgehammer before you even make it to the shower.

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, after a massive day your body overtakes your mind and you hit the wall. This time I push through that barrier, and feel surprisingly good. The company helps; Dean is as witty and charming as his brother. There are similarities, but they are very much different people. We spend some time at the bar, and then he asks me if I am hungry. I know he must be famished so we leave the rest of the crew and walk to a sensational steak restaurant near the hotel. I am beginning to suspect that all of the restaurants in Jo'burg are steak restaurants.

But no one's complaining about that: the steaks in South Africa are awesome. Dean brings along the bottle of red wine I gave him onboard, and the restaurant has no problem with us drinking it there. My filet mignon is to die for. I much prefer quality to quantity when it comes to meat and men; as for my meat, any steak that can be cut with a butter knife is my type of steak. This steak is the best I have ever had, and the company is even better.

Dean is divorced, like I had already guessed, but doesn't like to talk about his personal life too much. He doesn't have children, and from what I gather, that was the marriage's problem. She wanted kids, but Dean didn't.

‘I am a bit like Danny, in that I like to explore and travel. I had all those years at medical school and then I got married and set up my own practice … Life just seemed to be passing me by.'

Our conversation flows effortlessly and although I have been awake for over twenty-four hours already, I somehow wish the night would never end. I get the impression that Dean feels the same way. Before he has finished his steak, which is the biggest I have seen anyone eat, he reiterates what a great time he is having and coyly asks a question.

‘Is it is OK for me to call you back home? When I return from Tanzania?'

I am so excited, but reply as nonchalantly as I can, ‘Are you asking me out on a date, in two months' time?'

‘If I could, I would ask you out on a date tomorrow night.'

I smile. ‘Tomorrow night works for me.'

one year later

We had that date, and many more after that.

The last twelve months have flown by. Life is so good. Dean and I have been seeing each other since his return from Tanzania. Yes, we are very much in love, thank you very much. Though there has been talk of us moving in together, for now we both are enjoying our own independence. He has been on a trip with me, quite recently – any guesses who was on the crew with us? Danny, of course.