Several minutes later, the pilot returned with Emma, who was now wearing a pair of plastic pilot wings on her shirt and clutching a small, laminated card showing the cockpit controls. Her face was alight with excitement. “Mommy, I saw the clouds up close! And the buttons—they’re like magic!” she exclaimed, her earlier boredom forgotten.

The pilot handed Emma back to me, his mission accomplished. “Thank you,” I said earnestly, the words feeling inadequate for the gratitude I felt. He merely nodded humbly. “It was my pleasure. Keep those wings safe, okay?” he said to Emma, who nodded solemnly.