Summary

The story “Mid-Air” by Jennifer Allott follows Alex, a young boy, during a day spent with his sister, his father and the man’s girlfriend, Paula. As the family drives back from Robin Hood’s Bay, Alex starts feeling sick and asks his father to stop the car so he can vomit. Accidentally, part of his vomit goes on Paula’s shoes. Immediately afterwards, Alex comments on the trip and makes a reference to his mother, who also used to like the place when she and his father were still together.

Alex reflects on the importance of being nice to other people, and he remembers how he befriended a new classmate, Ben, who looked strange and liked to tell stories about catastrophes. Alex recalls when Ben had told him about a bus driver who flew the bus ove...