On the plane, a woman leaned her seat back, crushing my legs: I decided to teach her a lesson about civility.

22

On the plane, a woman reclined her seat and squashed my legs—I decided it was time to teach her a lesson in courtesy.

I was sitting by the window, calm and thinking—just an hour and a half flight, no big deal. In front of me sat a plump woman in a bright, patterned sweater. The plane had seldomly taken off when, without war:ning or a glance, she banged her seat back.

“Ouch!” my knees asserted as they were trapped.

“Excuse me,” I said courteously, leaning forward, “could you raise your seat a little? It’s really cramped for me.”

She didn’t even look back.

“It’s more comfortable this way,” she replied. I tried to toss my legs—impossible.

Deciding I wasn’t going to let it slide, I pressed the call button.

A flight attendant arrived:

“How can I help you?”

“The passenger in front of me has reclined her seat so far that my legs are pinned. I can’t move at all,” I explained. The attendant politely leaned toward the woman.

“Excuse me, could you raise your seat slightly to make it easier for your neighbor?”

The woman spun around like I had personally ruined her day.

“My back hurts. I paid for this seat; I’ll sit however I like.”

The flight attendant bit back an eye roll.

“Please consider the comfort of other passengers as well.”

With a long, exaggerated sigh, the woman lifted the seat a few centimeters.

“Happy now?” she snapped over her shoulder. “Well… my legs haven’t grown back yet, but it’s better, thank you,” I said with a smile.

She snorted, the stewardess gave me a knowing wink, and moved on.

What happened next changed everything… FULL STORY on the next page.
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