Extract from new novel

One last kiss for both of them and then Sharon turned away to hide the tears that were threatening. Just before she disappeared through the gate she turned back to see her parents standing, arms around each other, smiling and waving goodbye. One last wave and then she walked quickly through the gate and stood in line to put her hand luggage through the x-ray machine before stepping through the metal detector.

As she approached the device airport security provided a bin for her cell phone and laptop. She placed her hand luggage and bag on the conveyor belt and was startled to hear the operator shouting "Knife! Knife!" Her bag was removed and searched.

"You've got to be kidding!" she exclaimed as they extracted her tiny penknife. It was so small that it had become entangled in the lining of the bag. It had sentimental value and couldn't even cut anything – the blade, all one centimetre of it, was so blunt. It was a childhood toy given to her by her first boyfriend, thirteen year old Karl. She always carried it with her. She felt that it was a good luck symbol. "Who am I going to threaten with that?"

"Sorry it can't go on board with you."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Put it in the bin and then you can proceed."

"But…" Sharon looked at the unsympathetic sea of faces staring back at her. She shrugged her shoulders, bit back the tears, dropped the penknife in the bin, collected her electronics, her bag and her hand luggage and carried on. What a horrible way to start her new life!

She collected her bags and laptop and made her way to the plane. She had never been on a flight before so she watched the people in front of her to see what they were doing. They were carrying what looked like a booklet in their hand – Oh damn – her boarding pass! She stepped to the side to allow other passengers to pass her and scratched in her bag. Just as she was feeling frantic her fingers curled over the booklet. She pulled it out, adjusted her bags and joined the queue again. Her mind raced over a list of things  - "Oh God! Am I becoming OCD?" she thought. "Keep calm – take a few deep breaths … there! You have everything. You can do this!"

By this time she was on the tarmac aiming for (she hoped) her plane. She mounted the steps and had a crazy moment on the top step. She wanted to turn around and wave regally! No maybe it would be better to pretend there were throngs of fans lining the tarmac being kept back by hordes of policemen and security guards all screaming her name!

"That's better, Sharon keep a smile on those lips!" she chided herself as she waited for the hostess to help her find her seat.