Sophie's 1st Page
         
          Peter Hanson was born in Sydney, Australia in 1981. He lived with his mother, a cheery, blond receptionist, and his father, a tall, handsome pilot. They lived together happily in a quaint little seaside house with a big porch, where they would sit and drink lemonade on hot days. Peter's favorite thing to do was listen to his father's stories about all the different exotic places he had traveled to. Peter loved the way his father's eyes lit up, and how he moved his big hands through the air when he was trying to describe some far off land- like India in the springtime, or some ancient ruins in Italy. His father's stories fascinated Peter, and he fantasized about one day being a pilot too, and having his own stories to tell. One fateful July afternoon in 1990, Peter's father was killed in a car crash, on the way to buy ice for lemonade. Peter felt as though his whole world had been shoved through a trash compacter. For the first month after the accident, he only left his bedroom to get food and go to the bathroom.  However, his room slowly began to resemble the nest of some sun-shy animal, and he decided that this would not an optimum living environment, if he wanted to grow above five feet tall. So instead, Peter vowed that he would become a pilot, and travel the world like his father. Unfortunately, Peter's mother was not able to pull herself out of her grief as quickly. She became rather ill, Peter would often find her lying in bed, with the blinds drawn, for hours or even days at a time. Because of this, Peter was forced to grow up very quickly. By the time he was seventeen, he was quite self sufficient. He cooked and cleaned for himself and his mother, and his grades were good enough to get into even the most prestigious of colleges. However, Peter encountered a shock when he discovered the cost of pilot school. He couldn't bear the thought of asking his mother to pour away what little savings she had. So he took on many loans, and part time jobs, until finally graduated. He landed himself a job at Australian Airlines, and at last, he was free to live out the rest of life as a pilot like his father.
            "Peter Hanson, please report to gate 6 for flight 3564. Peter Hanson" The harsh voice over the intercom shook Peter from his reverie. He glanced at his watch, swore loudly, and started at a run through the bustling airport.