Falling: A Novel

Bill Hoffman, a commercial airline pilot, has a nightmare in which he is a passenger on a plane with a hole in its fuselage. The plane has also lost control due to damage to the tail section. Bill notes the physical injuries of other passengers before a flight attendant points out that he should be in the cockpit. Bill approaches the cockpit but cannot get inside. When he finally breeches the cockpit, Bill is frozen, but receives advice from his son and wife. Bill wakes in a panic in his bed.

Carrie Hoffman, Bill’s wife, is busy with her morning chores when her 10-year-old son, Scott, requests permission to go outside. Scott opens the door to find a man standing on the porch. Scott calls to his mother, who learns this man is Sam, a repairman from the cable company. Carrie invites Sam inside and makes him a cup of tea as she explains that the internet had been down for two days. Bill comes into the kitchen and asks Sam to leave them for a moment. Carrie is angry with Bill for accepting a flight even though he had taken this day off to attend Scott’s first game of the new little league season.