**Chapter 3: Boarding the Plane**

As we boarded the plane, excitement filled the air. My family and I had been looking forward to this trip to school for weeks. My siblings, Keontay, Darnell, Kyah, Beyoncé Ariana, and his kids, Kataya and KJ, were all chatting and laughing as we made our way to our seats. I was sandwiched between Keontay and Kyah, who were arguing over who got to control the armrest. Beyoncé Ariana was trying to calm down his kids, who were getting restless. My mom, Jyneshie, was in first class, thanks to the unexpected upgrade she had received earlier. She had been thrilled when the airline representative approached us at the gate and offered her the upgrade. She would be able to return home the next day, which was a bit strange, but we were all happy for her. As I settled into my seat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. I loved traveling with my family, and this trip was going to be especially fun since we were all going to school together. I gazed out the window, watching as the plane took off and the world below grew smaller. The flight was smooth, and before we knew it, the pilot's voice came over the intercom, announcing our descent. We were landing, and I couldn't wait to see what school had in store for us. As the plane touched down, I felt a thrill of excitement. We were finally here. As we exited the plane, I was hit with a wave of noise and color. There were people everywhere, and the air was filled with the sound of music and chatter. I looked around, taking it all in. We were at school, and it was a party. But as we made our way through the crowds, I noticed that something was off. There were banners and balloons everywhere, but there was also a sense of urgency in the air. People were rushing to get somewhere, and there was a sense of panic building. And then I saw it. One half of the school was on fire. Flames were licking at the windows, and smoke was billowing into the air. Pandemonium erupted as people rushed to get away from the fire. My family and I were caught up in the chaos, trying to make sense of what was happening. "Let's go!" my brother Beyoncé Ariana yelled, grabbing his kids and taking off towards the other half of the school. We followed close behind, our hearts racing with fear. But as we approached the entrance, I saw that it was blocked by a ticket counter. We needed tickets to get into the half of the school that wasn't on fire. My mom, who had been quietly observing the scene, stepped forward. She tried to give her ticket to one of the ticket takers, but they shook their head. "I'm sorry, ma'am," they said. "We can't take this ticket. You're being sent back home." My mom looked confused, but also relieved. She hugged us all tightly before turning and walking away. I watched as she disappeared into the crowd, feeling a pang of sadness. But I didn't have time to dwell on it. The rest of us needed to get into the school. We scrambled to get tickets, and eventually, we made it into the safe half of the building. As we caught our breath and tried to process what had just happened, two of my cousins, Jamar and Miss Jamia, came running up to us. They were accompanied by their mom, who looked relieved to see us safe. "Hey, guys!" Jamar exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "We were so worried about you! We saw the fire and thought the worst." My cousin Miss Jamia nodded in agreement. "We were trying to find you, but it was chaos. Are you okay?" I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around the events that had just transpired. "Yeah, we're fine. But Mom had to go back home." Jamar's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?" I explained the situation, and my cousins listened intently. As we talked, I noticed that Jamar was trying to wake up his little sister, who was sleeping peacefully on the floor. "Hey, wake up, sis!" Jamar said, gently shaking her. "We're safe. The fire didn't get us." His sister stirred, rubbing her eyes. "What happened?" she asked, her voice groggy. As my cousins and I filled her in on the details, I felt my eyes getting heavy. I was exhausted, and the excitement of the day was starting to wear off. I leaned back against the wall, feeling the warmth of the school's heating system seep into my bones. And then, just as I was starting to drift off, I felt myself being jolted awake. I was lying in my bed, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of my own room. It was all just a dream, I realized, feeling a mix of relief and disorientation. But as I sat up and looked around, I couldn't shake the feeling that it had all felt so real.