Hot air balloon

The propane fueled flames roared in Jacob's ears, deafeningly loud, and the heat less than a foot overhead was nearly unbearable. His hand gripped the trigger tightly, pumping the massive balloon full with heated air as he slowly lifted further and further into the air. He leaned over the side of his basket, watching the features of the land below becoming a little more distant, a little less recognizable. He still had a few hundred feet left to ascend before he could stop pumping the flames and level out. As he got higher, the cooled air of the elevated altitude would make the heat above his head more manageable. 

"Can barely even see the cars driving from up here," he said to no one in particular. His crew were the only people that Jacob interacted with when he was up in his hot air balloon. Not even his family could contact him. He left everything but the tools he needed behind, allowing himself more capable of enjoying the views that he could get from here, sights that could be seen in no other way, and especially not at such a leisurely pace. It wasn't the first time he headed into the sky, but he was always taken aback by the wonders of the things one could witness feom such heights. It was why he kept coming back. 

The radio on his belt crackled to life. "Calling three five flyer, come in. Come in three five flyer."

Jacob snapped the radio out of its holster on his hip and let go of the flames just long enough to answer. "Coming in loud and clear, three five base. Three five flyer reporting."

"Everything under control up there?"

"Affirmative."

"Remember, J. You've only got a few hours up there because of the late start. The crew can't wait forever. Try not to go too far."

"You got it, Rich. I'll let you know when I pass the ridge line."

"Yeah, you better. Don't fall asleep on us like you did last time. Over and out."

The radio was clipped back onto his belt and his hand was wrapped around the handle for the flames only a moment later. He tried not to think about having fallen asleep in his basket. His balloon had lost a considerable amount of air, and he had drifted dangerously close to the ground far past his designated target. He could have easily died that day. He owed his life to his crew. He didn't plan on testing their skill and loyalty like that again.

Not to mention his wife and daughter. They had known his schedule that day. When he had been late, they called his crew, who said they had been unable to contact him and he had missed his designated landing zone. He could see the terror on their faces when he made his emergency landing. That image would be etched in his mind forever. 

But Jacob still loved flying. And they knew he did. But before he took off again, they had made him swear that if anything like that happened again, he would give it up completely. He couldn't argue with that request. 

But it was a clear day. There was a nice breeze blowing him right where he wanted to go. And, despite what had happened, he still felt at home in the sky, and he was able to relax as he drifted lazily along.