[ WP ] A story in which everybody knows how they 'll die , but not when

I let out a small sigh as I as I arrived at the airport. The departures lounge was full of children, running around excitedly, couples arm in arm, beaming at each other whilst stocking up on sun cream and mosquito spray. And then there was me. Stood in line with my carry on bag, waiting to go on yet another European city break. My last few holidays had taken me to Paris, Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, Edinburgh and Amsterdam, and was now going to be visiting Madrid for a few days before popping over to Seville. I know I sound like an ungrateful git, but I am adventurous, and an animal lover. My dream is to visit Africa and India and go on safari, or go trekking deep in the jungles of South America. So the irony is not lost on me that I am going to meet my maker at the hands of a pack of wild'big cats.' 
 
 I love my life and so in the interests of making it last as long as possible, have avoided any situations where I might find myself face to face with these creatures. I know it will happen one day, maybe in my old age I'll decide to treat myself to an adventure holiday and as I'm blissfully watching the sun go down over the Serengeti, I'll feel the hot breath of lioness on the back of my neck and be content in the knowledge that I lived a long happy life and will die completing my bucket list. But at this point in my life I have never even visited a zoo. 
 
 As I take my place on the plane I notice I'm sitting in between a bloke who looks a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket and a lady in a full burkha. I smile at them both as I squeeze into the middle seat. The great thing about know how I'm going to cop it means I can fly without fear. I ca n't say the same thing for the bloke with the crazy eyes. He is one of those awful people who starts conversations with strangers. `` I should n't really be on this flight, gon na die in a plane crash I am, ” he mutters at me. “ But still, this is my ninth flight and nothing yet, bit of turbulence over Egypt two years ago, actually pooed myself on that one, cabin crew understood of course, it happens more often than you'd think.'' I smile at him and explain that his pants will be fine today. 
 
 Two hours later, a disgusting smell wakes me from my slumber and proves me wrong. Something is terribly wrong with the plane. The oxygen masks fall down as the cabin crew race back to their seats. We are hurtling towards the ground, even though I know this is n't going to kill me my palms are sweating, my heart is racing and I get into the brace position. Then we hit the ground. 
 
 Well, the crazy one was right. He really did die in a plane crash. A lot of people were taking the same risk he did. A few of us, including the pilot, were lucky. We escaped the wreckage and stood around hugging, crying and thanking whichever God had saved us. The pilot told us not to worry, he sent out the distress signal, we were just off the coast of Spain, and our rescuers would be here soon. None of us survivors could believe how lucky we were. But then, the pilot said something which sent a chill down my spine; “ We were transporting some tigers to the Madrid zoo, I wonder if they ’ ve survived? ” 

