National Adult Literacy Database

August 17, 1998

This week, we have a strue story written by Agathe Desil, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Agathe is originally from Haiti, and she came to Canada in 1989. She has been in the Stevenson-Brittania Literacy Program since three years ago.

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by Agathe Desil

Last August, when I was going on my holiday, I bought my ticket 3 months before and at the same time I got my reservation to go to Haiti. On Sunday, August 6th, when I got to the airport, it was 10:35. I was checking my luggage and passport, a lady told me to go to Gate 'L'. So I went in and a man checked my purse before I went in. After everything was finished being checked, I went to sit down. I never checked the time but I saw many people pass by while I was sitting.

Then I looked at my watch. It was 11:10. Then I said to myself, "My god, the plane is supposed to fly at 11:15, it is already 11:10". So I went back to the same place I was before. I said to the man "You told me Gate 'L', but I am at the Gate and I didn't see where to get the plane". He said "You are at Gate 'L'".

Then I went back down fast. I saw Gate 'L' far away in the hallway. Then I ran and I saw 2 ladies checking tickets. Then I showed one of them my passport and my ticket. She told me "You just missed the plane". I said "Missed the plane?" it can't be. It is only 11:15". She said "I am sorry, there's nothing I can do for you". She gave me my passport back. The other lady said "Let me see your ticket. Oh no, don't you see? She has to go to Haiti tomorrow at 9:45 a.m." She said to the other lady "Did the plane leave already?" The woman said "No, but the door is closed". Then she pressed a button and she talked to someone and said "Open the door, we have one more passenger". Then they opened the door for me. It was only my chair that was left. As soon as I sat down, the airplane took off.

[This poem was taken with permission, from The Manitoba Literacy Star, Fall 1996, produced by the Stevenson-Brittania Literacy Program, Winnipeg, Manitoba.]