Requirements:

Question

Write as if you ARE the character using 1st person point of view.
Use chronological (time) order to retell the story.
Organize the 5 plot elements with 5 separate paragraphs.
Use MLA Format
Use correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and sentence structure.
Final Paper should be 1-2 pages in length.

Highlight or underline the character whose point of view you will be using. The businessman

Why is the character you chose traveling?

How does the character react when the plane is struck by lightning?

What does the character think about when the plane is making an emergency landing?

What has the character learned as a result of this experience?

read and create the story and after you are done doing so answer these questions.

A-Ha Moment
by Julia Alvarez

I was in the tiny bathroom in the back of the plane when I felt the slamming
jolt, then the horrible swerve that threw me against the door.
“Oh, Lord,” I thought, “this is it!”
Somehow, I managed to unbolt the door and scramble out. The flight
attendants, already strapped in, waved wildly for me to sit down. As I lunged ahead
toward my seat, passengers looked up at me with the stricken expression of
creatures who know they are about to die.
“I think we got hit by lightning,” the girl in the seat next to mine said. She
was from a small town in east Texas, and this was only her second time on an
airplane. She had won a trip to England by competing in a high school geography
bee and was supposed to make a connecting flight when we landed in Newark. In
the next seat, at the window, sat a young businessman who had been confidently
working. Now he looked worried—something that really worries me: when
confident-looking businessmen look worried. The laptop was put away.
“Something’s not right,” he said.
The pilot’s voice came over the speaker. I heard vaguely through my fear,
“Engine number two...hit...emergency landing...New Orleans.”
When he was done, the voice of a flight attendant came on, reminding us of
the emergency procedures she had reviewed before takeoff. Of course, I never paid
attention to this drill, always figuring that if we ever got to the point where
we needed to use life jackets, I would have already died of terror. Now we began a
roller-coaster ride through the thunderclouds. I was ready to faint, but when I saw
the face of the girl next to me, I pulled myself together. I reached for her hand and
reassured her that we were going to make it.
“What a story you’re going to tell when you get home!” I said. “After this,
London’s going to seem like small potatoes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she mumbled.

I wondered where I was getting my strength. Then I saw that my other hand
was tightly held by a ringed hand. Someone was comforting me—a glamorous
young woman across the aisle, the female equivalent of the confident businessman.
She must have seen how scared I was and reached over.
“I tell you,” she confided. “The problems I brought up on this plane with me
sure don’t seem real big right now.” I loved her southern drawl, her indiscriminate
use of perfume, her soulful squeezes. I was sure that even if I survived a plane
crash, I’d have a couple of broken fingers from all the T.L.C
“Are you okay?” she kept asking me.
Among the many feelings going through my head during those excruciating
20 minutes was pride—pride in how well everybody was behaving. No one
panicked. No one screamed.
As we jolted and screeched our way downward, I could hear small pockets
of soothing conversation everywhere. I thought of something I had heard a friend
say about the wonderful gift his dying father had given the family. He had died
peacefully, as if not to alarm any of them about an experience they would all have
to go through someday.
And then—yes!—we landed safely. Outside on the ground, attendants and
officials were waiting to transfer us to alternate flights. But we passengers clung
together. We chatted about the lives we now felt blessed to be living, as difficult or
rocky as they might be. The young businessman sighed that he had not had a
chance to buy his two girls a present. An older woman offered him her box of
expensive Lindt chocolates, still untouched, tied with a lovely bow. “I shouldn’t be
eating them anyhow,” she said.
My glamorous aisle mate took out her cell phone and passed it around to
anyone who wanted to make a call, or to hear the reassuring voice of a loved one.
There was someone I wanted to call. Back in Vermont, my husband was
anticipating my arrival late that night. He had been complaining that he wasn’t
getting to see very much of me because of my book tour. That’s why I had decided
to take this particular flight—oh, yes, those stories! I had planned to surprise him
by getting in a few days early. Now I just wanted him to know I was okay and on
my way. When my name was finally called to board my new flight, I felt a bit

tearful to be parting from people whose lives had so intensely, if for a moment,
touched mine.
Now, back on firm ground, walking down a Vermont road, I sometimes hear
an airplane and look up at that small, glinting, piece of metal. I remember the
passengers on that fateful, lucky flight and wish I could thank them for the many
acts of kindness I witnessed and received. I am indebted to my fellow passengers
and wish I could pay them back. Just then, remembering my aisle mate’s hand
clutching mine while I clutched the hand of the high school student, I was struck
by lightning all over again: The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on.

Answer 1

Title: A Businessman's A-Ha Moment

As a businessman, my travels are often filled with meetings, presentations, and deadlines. This journey was no different. I found myself on a flight bound for Newark, eager to finalize a crucial deal that could significantly boost my company’s growth. With my laptop in hand, I was fully engrossed in my work when suddenly the plane jolted violently. My heart raced as a sense of impending doom washed over me. I had always been a man of control, but that control slipped away with the shocking realization that we might be in real danger. The plane was struck by lightning, and the fear that flickered in my mind was undeniable. I could feel the unease ripple through the cabin as I exchanged glances with worried passengers around me.

When the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, all semblance of calm disappeared. He announced that we had lost engine number two and needed to make an emergency landing in New Orleans. Anxiety coursed through me; I had never faced a situation like this before. Here I was, usually confident and decisive, feeling utterly powerless. I couldn’t help but notice the girl beside me, her wide eyes mirroring my fear. Her innocence reminded me of my own daughter, and a protective instinct surged within me. I knew I had to take control—not just for myself but for those around me. I put away my laptop and momentarily suspended my business worries, focusing instead on calming my anxious seatmate.

As the plane descended through turbulent weather, I witnessed a surprising transformation within myself. Amidst the chaos, I felt a profound sense of connection with my fellow passengers. I held on to the hand of the girl next to me and the comforting hand of an elegant woman across the aisle. Together, we formed a small coalition of support, grasping on to each other’s comforting presences as we braced for the landing. I became acutely aware of the many character traits that define us in crises—kindness, empathy, and composure. I realized that my life, drenched in the demands of business, had perhaps made me forget these very essential human qualities.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally touched down safely. A wave of relief washed over me, replaced by the warmth of gratitude. We were met by attendants outside the aircraft, and despite the unexpected detour, the atmosphere buzzed with shared stories and laughter. Passengers now spoke openly of their lives, their fears, and the remarkable sense of camaraderie we had developed in those harrowing minutes. I learned about the young girl’s dreams, the stunning woman’s travels, and the older passengers’ wisdom. Connections formed in the face of adversity felt genuine and meaningful.

Reflecting on this experience, I returned to my life with a renewed sense of purpose. I had always thought success was measured in business achievements, but now I saw a different perspective. It wasn't just about the number of deals I made or the money I earned; it was also about creating lasting human connections. I realized that sharing kindness is the greatest success of all. Each act of compassion we showed each other throughout that flight, from providing comfort to sharing a smile, spoke volumes of who we are as people. Now, when I hear an airplane overhead, I’m reminded of that fateful flight, and I smile, hoping to always carry forward the kindness and the lesson of connection I learned.

Works Cited
Alvarez, Julia. "A-Ha Moment." Personal Narrative, n.d.