The Final Journey

I'd watched the black van pull up next to the plane but it was only when the two solemnly dressed men climbed out that I realised it was a hearse. The rain drifted across the airfield but the men moved with grace and purpose around to the back of the vehicle and opened the back door. They then stood with heads respectfully bowed waiting for their signal. It wasn't long before they were joined by a third man who had none of the gracefulness of the two undertakers. He wore a bright orange jacket and had ear protectors and an ID card on a lanyard around his neck He moved swiftly, officiously, his body language stuffed with self importance and impotence. Through the departure lounge glass I could not hope to hear what he was saying but it was obvious that he was upset with the two men in black. In his hand he carried two hi vis jackets and he waved them around with purpose as he spoke finally holding them out towards the undertakers. There seemed to be some kind of impasse as the two men shook their heads slowly and the ground staffer got on his walkie-talkie talking with great urgency. He looked around and my eyes followed his to see a man in a grey suit striding towards the little coven on the Tarmac donning his own hi vis vest as he did so.

The suited man's body language was much more accomodating, apologetic even, but he spoke with no less forcefulness than his colleague. Eventually the two undertakers looked at each other, nodded and took the hi vis jackets from the man with the ear protectors round his neck and slipped them on over their dark suits. An unnecessarily triumphant smile spread across the ground staff man's face. I felt a bit sorry for him, i guessed he spent his whole life involved in mini battles in the health and safety war; enforcing rules that were full of good intention but needed a modicum of common sense. Despite looking faintly ridiculous in their luminous vests the men moved with dignity as they unloaded their unfortunate cargo from the plane and into their car. The final journey could continue now the rules had been obeyed.