Alhough Alexie does not supply his readers with a fully satisfying ending, it is evident that William comes to some sort of realization. Perhaps he realizes that he is a lucky man to have a family who loves him and whom he can come home to every night, because as soon as Fekadu drops him off at the airport, he runs to the first pay phone he sees, emotions running high, and calls home. Whether or not William will actually rethink how he approaches dark-skinned, suspicious-looking people due to his conversation with Fekadu will remain a mystery because of the story’s abrupt ending. However, the climactic ending of “Flight Patterns” reveals a transformation in William for the better because of the emotional state that Alexie leaves William in at the conclusion. If nothing else, the reader hopes that William realizes that when we look past appearances, we can transcend the boundary between potential enemy and fellow human being.