A baby wear parasuit.
It was a typical Saturday morning, the kind that you often take for granted when your schedule is open and the world is still at peace, waiting for you to fill it with plans. I was sitting at my kitchen table, nursing a coffee and scrolling through my phone, when I got the text. It was from my sister, Kelly.
“Hey, can you watch Dylan for a few hours today? I have to run errands and I’m in a bit of a pinch. Please let me know! 😬”
It wasn’t an unusual request. Kelly and I had always been close, and I had spent plenty of time with her son, Dylan, over the past few years. Dylan was 10 years old, a lively, curious kid who was always asking questions about the world around him. Sometimes I wondered if his enthusiasm for life was a little too much for my introverted, “calm” personality. But I loved him, of course. He was my nephew.
I glanced at the clock. It was 10:30 AM. I had nothing particularly pressing planned for the day, just the usual Saturday routine of laziness and maybe catching up on some work.
“Sure, I’ve got him. What time should I expect him?” I texted back.
A minute later, Kelly replied with a thumbs-up emoji and a message: “Thanks a million! I’ll drop him off in an hour.”
I had an hour. Time to prepare.
Dylan arrived with his usual energy, bursting through the door like a tiny whirlwind. He was wearing his favorite red hoodie with a logo of a racing car on the front and jeans that looked like they’d been through several rounds of paintball. He waved at me as soon as he saw me standing by the door.
“Auntie!” he shouted, running over and giving me a hug. Dylan was the kind of kid who never held back his emotions. If he liked you, you knew it—loudly.
I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Hey, kiddo. Ready for an adventure today?”
Dylan’s eyes lit up, but then he stopped, looking at me with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. “An adventure? Like, what kind of adventure?”
I couldn’t resist teasing him. “Oh, you’ll see. It’s something big, something… thrilling.”
“Are we going to the park?” he asked eagerly.
“Better,” I said. “How would you like to go skydiving?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how ridiculous they sounded. Skydiving? I hadn’t even been skydiving myself, and here I was, suggesting it as if it were a normal Saturday activity. Dylan’s eyes grew wide, a mixture of fear and excitement washing over his face.
“Wait… really? You’re not joking, right?” His voice dropped into a hushed tone, like he was trying to process if I was just pulling his leg.
“Absolutely,” I said with a grin. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plus, I think you’re old enough to handle it.”
“But I’ve never jumped out of an airplane before,” Dylan said, his voice faltering. “What if I… what if I don’t want to?”
I knelt down to his level, trying to read his face. He was a bold kid, but I knew that something like skydiving could really mess with his head. “We don’t have to do it if you’re not ready, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. And I figured, if you’re with me, you’ll be safe. No one’s ever jumped alone on their first try anyway.”
Dylan was quiet for a moment, chewing on his lower lip, the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he spoke.
“You’ll be with me the whole time?” he asked, his voice small but hopeful.
“Every step of the way,” I said.
He didn’t hesitate after that. “Okay, let’s do it.”
It’s funny how the confidence of a 10-year-old can be so infectious. I was nervous, but I didn’t want to show it. Besides, how could I back out now? Dylan was in. If I said no, I’d be the worst aunt in the world.
We drove to the nearest skydiving center, a place that looked more like a hangar than the cool, adrenaline-pumping headquarters I’d imagined. There were a few small planes parked nearby, their engines humming in preparation for the next group of daredevils. I could see other jumpers in their suits, chatting and laughing as they gathered by the planes, seemingly unfazed by the high-altitude craziness they were about to participate in.
Inside the building, we were greeted by a couple of instructors. One was a woman in her thirties, with short brown hair and a smile that was too wide for comfort. Her name was Sarah. She introduced herself as our guide for the day, and I noticed how quickly she assessed Dylan’s nervous energy.
“Hey, buddy, don’t worry. It’s totally normal to feel a little jittery before your first jump,” she said with a wink. “But I promise you, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.”
I’m not sure who was more nervous, me or Dylan. But Sarah was the professional here, so I decided to trust her.
She led us through the pre-jump briefing, explaining the equipment, how the parachutes worked, and the safety measures. Dylan absorbed everything like a sponge, his initial nerves shifting into pure curiosity.
“Wait, so when we jump, we’re falling really fast? Like, faster than a race car?” Dylan asked.
Sarah chuckled. “Oh, definitely faster than a race car. But don’t worry, you’re not going to fall forever. The parachute will open, and you’ll glide down like a bird.”
Dylan’s eyes lit up at the thought of gliding. “That sounds awesome!”
I was still processing the reality of what we were about to do. The whole idea had sounded exciting when I’d suggested it, but now that we were here, I wasn’t so sure. I glanced at the door, wondering if I could just sneak out and pretend it never happened. But no, I was committed. And Dylan was waiting for me to lead the way.
Before I could second-guess myself, Sarah had us fitted for our jumpsuits. Dylan was bouncing on his heels, clearly more excited than scared. I tried to hide my nerves, but I could feel my heart racing as they strapped the harness around me.
The plane ride was nothing like I expected. The noise inside was deafening, and the seatbelts felt tight and uncomfortable. Dylan’s face was flushed with excitement, his eyes wide as he peered out the tiny window at the earth below.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him, my voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.
“Absolutely!” Dylan shouted back, his voice full of enthusiasm. “I’m ready to do this!”
I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely convinced. My thoughts kept jumping to the same question: Why had I suggested this in the first place?
Then the moment arrived. The plane leveled out at 12,000 feet, and Sarah stood up, motioning for us to get ready. Dylan was already in position, attaching the straps and buckles as Sarah explained the process one last time.
“When the door opens, we’re going to jump. Just remember to keep your body in the right position. Don’t forget to smile for the camera!” she added with a wink.
Before I could brace myself, the door to the plane slid open with a rush of cold air. I could feel my stomach drop as the noise of the wind intensified. Dylan looked back at me, grinning like a maniac.
“This is it!” he yelled.
And then, without another word, Sarah led the way. Dylan followed right behind her, and just like that, they were gone. I stared at the empty doorframe for a split second before I realized I was next.
“Your turn!” Sarah shouted over the wind.
I couldn’t believe it. I was standing in an open doorway, looking at the vast expanse of sky before me, with nothing but air between me and the ground below.
I took a deep breath, held on tight to the straps, and jumped.
The freefall was unlike anything I’d ever imagined. The rush of wind, the absolute freedom of falling without a care in the world, made me feel more alive than I ever thought possible. Below me, I could see the ground approaching rapidly. But I wasn’t scared anymore. In that moment, there was only the thrill, the joy of the jump, and the knowledge that I was doing something amazing—something I never would have done alone.
And then, as the wind began to slow, Sarah pulled the cord, and the parachute opened with a loud whoosh. The descent shifted from chaotic to peaceful as we glided, floating slowly towards the earth. I looked around and saw Dylan, just a few feet away, with his own parachute spread wide, smiling ear to ear.
“You did it, Auntie!” he called out, waving.
“I can’t believe we did it!” I yelled back, laughing.
We landed safely on the ground, and as our feet touched the earth, I realized that this would be a day I’d never forget.
Later, as we drove home, Dylan was buzzing with excitement, recounting every detail of the jump. He couldn’t stop talking about the feeling of flying and how he’d felt like a superhero. And me? I couldn’t stop smiling, despite the exhaustion creeping in. Watching him enjoy the experience, seeing the spark in his eyes—it had all been worth it.
When we finally arrived back at my place, I gave him a high five. “Well, kiddo, I think we made a memory today.”
He nodded, a grin plastered on his face. “Best day ever, Auntie!”
And as I hugged him goodbye, I couldn’t help but think: Kelly had no idea what kind of “adventure” I had planned for her son. But honestly? I think she’d approve.
After all, how many aunts can say they took their nephew skydiving for the first time?
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