A/N: Ownership: I don't own Glee copyrights. I have tonnes of dvd's, cd's, paraphernalia which includes my Intellectual Property of Imagination.
I'm Australian, this has all great inspiration from our lovely island. This chapter is inspired by a sky diving vid of Woolongong, New South Wales, and the Bulli Pass. This is a story of fiction, at places that are not.
I Want this to be an independent story, for the moment I'm going to publish here under our great love of Glee. However, as my baby, please substitute the following, and change to the cast mentioned.
Kurt - Scott, played by a very young Richard Gere.
Tina - Claire, played by Scarlett Johansen. ~ Blaine - Paul, played by Andy Garcia.
Every story needs some original characters, *Harley - played by Ashton Kutcher. *Charlie - played by a very young Kevin Kline. ~ Rachel - Charlotte, played by Makyla Smith.
Sebastian - Jaxon, played by Fabrizio Filippo. ~ *Isabelle – played by Rachelle Lefevre.
~ Read, enjoy ~
~ Travelling the White Line ~
Chapter Nine.
Belief.
Kurt's well aware that the more people he allows in to his life, the more funerals he gets invited to. It pays to attend as many as possible, especially of those who owe him something.
The old man owed him nothing, if anything, he owed the man his respect to attend.
The gathering was big, there were all the old man's family, their supporters. There was also the appearance of many dignitary's. Politicians and a few A-lister's, Kurt was impressed.
Behind his glasses, in the clothes he was wearing, he thought no one recognized him. He hovered at the left sided edge of the mourners, close enough to just hear and a good spot to see.
The wife was in tears, children of varying ages too, descendants and other hanger-on's stood around in support.
He hears the familiar whine and rolling of film in the distance, clicks of shutters and mumbling of paparazzi. They're not here for him, he feels relieved and is quite relaxed.
After the Priest says his words the coffin is released and makes its slow descent in to the grave. Many sobs are heard, as reality bites again. Single stemmed flowers are thrown from above, they fall on top and around the coffin.
"The widow and family would appreciate you all coming back for the wake, please?" The Priest announces. Kurt isn't sure if he should impose, he turns to leave but someone places a firm grip on his arm.
He turns to face a very good looking man, very similar to the old man. "Please do come to the wake. I know my father would have appreciated your visit here, and he would want you supporting my mother."
"Well, I suppose I probably should then." He extends his hand out in polite respect. "I'm Kurt Hummel, I only met your father the one time. When I saw the notice, I just felt compelled that I should attend."
Taking Kurt's hand, he shakes it politely and releases him. A hand on his back and guidance to join the well doers.
The family were appropriate and polite at the wake. Being an outsider has its benefits and certainly its downfalls.
The benefit that he isn't privy to all the angst and deeper anguish, the downfall that he feels isolated and an intruder. And that makes Kurt also feel inferior, the coldness that comes with being alone, single and wondering how welcome he really is.
These emotions that are creating a feeling of true despair, and if not for his son, he wouldn't be feeling so horrible right now. His son that invited him to participate and now Kurt is wondering what the hell is he doing here?
He's stood and sat during meaningless conversations of how wonderful the old man was, how terrific he participated in so many activities. At first the conversations were interesting, but after hearing different versions of so many similar stories, he's tiring.
None of the conversations were reflecting the gentleman that Kurt had met. The man he met was more subdued and loving, it wasn't that they described a monster, it's just who they described didn't sound anything like the old man he'd met.
He seeks out the widow, she is sitting by the coonara heater, in the same position that Kurt had last seen the old man in. "Excuse me?" He approaches her cautiously, being as respectful as he can. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
She looks to him and taps the seat alongside her, he does as requested. "Thank you for coming, he spoke a lot about you that night you came and stayed with us." She twiddles with a little gift box. It looks like a little treasure chest and is covered with drawings of the Eiffel Tower on one side, a lake like one would image to be Giverny on the another side. A picture of the Arc de Triomphe on the next side and a breakfast setting of croissants and juice.
She opens it and Kurt fights hard to not peak inside. He looks away and notes how serene the world is at this time of the day, looking out the windows he did from so many mornings ago.
Kurt hears her clip it shut. "Here, he wanted you to have this." Turning back to her, he takes the offered item. "Me, he left something to me?"
He thinks of its weight, not very heavy and when he angles it he feels something slide inside. Putting it on his lap he gently lifts the latch back up. The latch that is a beautiful gold, complimenting against the soft cream and pastel colours.
Inside it is lined with pearl coloured satin material, there is an old style gold key and a piece of paper. The paper is old and crumpled, he opens it carefully expecting it to fall apart.
"He left me his bucket list?" Emotions of huge happiness fill him and he coughs back tears and can't help from smiling. "But there is no mention of what the key is for?" He asks more than says.
She points to a dressing table in the corner of the room. He gets up, walks to it, kneels down and puts the key in the only place available for such a key. Opening the door he finds a heavy jacket for a pilot and a helmet, black gloves, thick socks and pilot boots.
He pulls them out and lays them on the nearby lounge chair. The widow has joined him and is sitting on the edge of the chair. She claps her dainty old hands, "I haven't seen them for so long. I wondered where they were, but he wouldn't answer me."
He comments, "My goodness, well let me look at the list again and see what they're for." Going over the list, he notes the numbers crossed out and lines through occasional items.
His watch alarm goes off, and he laughs as he looks at the widow. She asks, "Why are you so happy? What did you find?"
"Well, as it turns out, these items I need for something I had planned for today, but is already struck off this list as being done."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Sky diving." She coughs after he's said that. "Pardon, did you say sky diving?"
"Yes." She reaches for the paper, "When did sky diving get struck off the list?"
She reads down the list, it hadn't been struck off indicating not being done, it had been circled, crossed and a line through it. Alongside it is the date of his last birthday, a day like every other birthday, where he just gets up and goes to do what he wants.
It also had a notation, 'This is by far the best thing I've ever done, wish I'd done it sooner.'
"Well!" She folds the paper back up and gives it back to Kurt. "If anyone was more deserving of all this, he chose you and you alone."
"Amusing as some of this is, I …." He folds up the clothing and sets the box on top. "I actually have to be somewhere right now. Do you mind if I take these now?"
She stands and offers her arms to hug him, he walks in to her and hugs her back. It's a small embrace from him and a huge one from her.
"I think you should, yes it will be fine." He picks up what he can carry and she carries the rest, they go to front door and she lets him exit first. "Could you write me and let me know how your experience was?"
"I can phone if you like."
"No my hearing isn't always good, I'd prefer you to write, please?" She's walked him to the driver's side and he holds the door open. "Sure, I'll write you then." Her hand on his, sharing a moment of fond farewell.
"Well, I look forward to your letter." She lets him get in, and steps back to the building.
Kurt checks for oncoming traffic, mirrors and belts up. He reverses his car, looks up at her and waves.
With her arms wrapped around herself, she lifts one arm, kisses her hand and throws it his way. "Bye!" She calls out.
"Take care." He says back, knowing she wouldn't have heard, but the sentiment is there.
He looks over his shoulder once more, for traffic that he'll be merging in to, indicates and moves his car on to the road.
Two minutes down the road, he indicates to go left. Left again, down the Bulli Pass, this time knowing what he'll be facing.
As the magnitude of the descent hits him, and the world falls away showing that it really is round and if he could fly instead of fall then now is the best time to take that leap, instead of a plunge.
He comes to the emotional marker of where he stalled last time, the traffic behind is far back. He has enough time to panic, but is more resolved to not.
The marker comes, and is passed. A huge sense of accomplishment washes over him, he sits up straighter and smiles wide at the world.
Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, he does a little jump in his seat. The car wobbles and he grabs the steering wheel with a death grip.
"Enough Kurt Hummel. You're fantastic, terrific and courageous." He kisses his hand and taps the dashboard quickly. "Okay baby!girl, lets go do this."
Kurt sits on the edge of the plane, with just material between him and a good looking instructor (Charlie) behind him. "Why am I doing this again?" He yells behind him.
"Because you really, really want to."
Looking out at the world beyond the air plane, the world with nothing between him and it, the world that is beautiful with blue water, blue sky, green ground, off white sand, fluffy white wave crashes, solid lines of human fencing, dark green splotches indicating trees, black and brown blobs that are human buildings, cars and trucks that move along fixed lines and moving dots that are the humans and animals underneath.
He holds the edge of the door frame, the plane a beautiful colour of matching blue to the sky. His heart is racing, inhaling the air is a touch icy and he swallows hard, refusing to give in to his natural worry.
"Shit!" His mouth releases a word independent of his want. A small jitter takes hold and Charlie taps him on the back. "Nearly there." He calls to Kurt.
Looking toward the pilot, cool, calm and looking over his displays. The pilot lifts his head and looks out the window to the right, the front and the left, coming back to the front again. He sits comfortably, takes a hand off his steering wheel and taps the microphone control on his ear. "All ready back there?"
Don't turn around. Kurt thinks. The pilot turns around and nods to them. Charlie and Kurt nod to him, Kurt out of dumb habit, he just wants to shake his head.
The air plane motor is humming, the propeller twirling around and around. Kurt's bum is comfortable on the edge of the plane, happy to never move.
"We have to go." Charlie lets Kurt know. "You have to make a decision, like NOW!"
Kurt leans forward and can feel the pressure of Charlie behind him. He moves back again. "You can do this. It's really easy, and I promise, when we get down there, you're gonna want to do it again."
Kurt raises an eyebrow at that statement, that's what his dad had warned him about with regards to …. And it had been wonderful, terrific, and he wanted more, so much more.
"Count with me." Charlie yells. "Okay!" Kurt calls back. "I'm ready for this, on the count of three, then we go!"
"That's my boy." And Kurt feels something else when Charlie squeezes his shoulders together.
They rock back and forth, then Charlie yells, "One, … Two …" Kurt leans forward and yells back, "THREE!" He pushes off from the plane, pulling Charlie with him.
There were a few seconds, one of him sitting in the plane, grounded, the next moving off the plane, independent, the next one the weight of Charlie falling on top of him, a weight reminding him of someone else. Then they were semi falling, the air rushing by his face, his hair and body. It was so slow and so very fast.
He could hear himself screaming, but there was no fear in him. This whole independence from the plane, from restraints other than the safety of Charlie, was so exhilarating.
He held on to the straps on either side of his head, with a mixture of being relaxed and not knowing what else for his hands to do. He lifted his feet in front of him, and pretended to sit. The air pushed him upward, and he squealed with delight again.
"Oh My Lady GaGa!" Charlie smiled at his passenger's delight, the last four words said with a twist of what he hears others call out, at this moment. He looks over Kurt's head and around at the direction they're heading.
He taps Kurt on the shoulder a moment before pulling the parachute cord.
At the pull Kurt and Charlie break momentarily from the gravity rush, they're lifted up and then they sail through the air. Gliding along against the air flow, in to small pockets of wind.
They float along and gently move from one piece of sky to another, the ground taking time to get closer and the weird weightlessness getting less.
Kurt looks out in the distances, looking at horizons of vast water edges, some birds a little above that, but below them and to the right the horizon of the mountain side. He spots the reflective marker of the Widow and Old Man's café, he sees the zig zag of the Bulli Pass. All of these are below him, in the far distance.
A surge of something exquisite fills through his stomach to his chest and pushes around his mind, his ears hearing another yell of pleasure.
A high is hit and an extreme moment of pure bliss is felt. A high and bliss only similar to one other time in his life.
His life, that up until recently had felt very long, but in contrast to the Old Man and his Widow, was comparatively short.
Moments of thought had taken him from observing more of what the short ride had to offer. The ground is coming up to them quicker than wanted.
He watches as Charlie guides them to their landing marker.
Long grass and many people are gathered waiting to greet them. As they come sailing along the ground, Charlie pulling tight on controls, both of them with their feet at an angle, and as they slide with the grass and earth they alternate to walking, as the sudden stop happens.
Kurt tumbles forward, Charlie following suit and the parachute collapses over and around them.
With the rush of adrenaline and forgetting propriety, Kurt's mind flips to a long lost friend, he grabs Charlie and throws a quick kiss on his unaccustomed lips.
It was a rush moment, lasting no more than a few seconds, but it flips the both of them off kilter.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Kurt quickly apologises, not knowing what took over him. "I wasn't thinking, I'm just so elated." He's all red faced and panicky.
Charlie steps back and pushes at the same time, he grabs Kurt's wrists, "Hey, it's cool. I'm not in to guyz, but that happens from time to time."
Releasing Kurt he starts to gather the parachute around them.
As they surface, Kurt still flushed and Charlie nonplussed, the other sky divers join them in calls of congratulations and happiness.
"Who's up for another round?" One of the other male participants calls.
Quick as lightening, "I am, I am!" Kurt calls out, then stops his mouth as his eyes go wide. They all look at him, with surprise, a few moments of disbelief pass and they join him in laughter.
"Okay, well, let's get ready again." Charlie calls and lands a hand on Kurt's shoulder, pushing him toward another male instructor, one he knows will appreciate Kurt's enthusiasm more.
Extra kute author notes: I'm a great believer in facing your fears and getting through them, where-ever possible. I've been on that Bulli Pass, always as a passenger. It's steeper than the road up to the Tyers Lookout. I can manage that one, I'll manage the other one too, one day.
I'm sure you enjoyed this update, I hope you enjoy everything you can.