Seventeen – year – old Andrew, a pampered wealthy teenager used to getting his way, frequently treats others poorly. After his father witnesses him mocking a flight attendant, he decides it’s high time Andrew learned a lesson in respect.
“Can you move it any faster?” Andrew grumbled impatiently as he pushed past an elderly man being assisted by a young flight attendant. The man was having difficulty walking, but Andrew didn’t think twice before making fun of him and rushed to his seat.
As the plane took off, Andrew, a frequent flyer since childhood, lifted the window shade. Bored and eager to get home after his first semester at boarding school, he eventually got up to retrieve his tablet, leaving his bag sticking out of the overhead bin.
The flight attendant who had been helping the older man earlier came over. “Your bag is sticking out. You didn’t close the overhead bin properly, sir.” “Then do it. Don’t just stand there. It’s not my job,” Andrew retorted rudely. Despite the boy’s rudeness, the stewardess, maintaining her professionalism, closed the bin and walked away.
Still in a foul mood, Andrew started eating some peanuts but spat them out in disgust. He rudely called the attendant over. “These peanuts taste terrible! Get me something better than these disgusting nuts!” he demanded, tossing the bag at her. The visibly upset yet polite attendant responded, “Sir, please calm down and don’t throw things at me.” “I’ll do as I please!” Andrew snapped. “You’re here to serve me. Just go get me something decent to eat, not this lousy junk like these peanuts. Now, go!” The nearby passengers watched in disbelief as Andrew behaved so disrespectfully towards the patient stewardess.
Andrew’s seatmate, the older man he had mocked earlier, interrupted his rude behavior towards the flight attendant. “Young man, don’t talk to her like that,” the older man chided. “Just because it’s her job to serve us doesn’t mean you can disrespect her. She’s doing her job well, and it would be nice if you were kind to her and stopped yelling.” “Why should I be kind to someone who can’t do her job?” Andrew retorted, snapping his fingers at the stewardess. “Hurry up with my snack! Don’t just stand there staring at me like a statue!” The attendant, on the verge of tears but still composed, walked away.