Seventeen – year – old Andrew, a pampered rich kid used to getting his way, often treated others poorly. After witnessing him mock a flight attendant, his father decided it was high time Andrew learned a lesson in respect.
“Can you move any faster?” Andrew impatiently grumbled 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 then rushed to his seat.
As the plane took off, Andrew, a frequent flyer since childhood, lifted the window shade. Bored and eager to get back 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 elderly man earlier came over. “Your bag is sticking out. You didn’t close the overhead bin properly, sir.” “Then do it instead of just standing there. It’s not my job,” Andrew rudely retorted. Despite the boy’s rudeness, the stewardess, maintaining her composure, closed the bin and walked away.
Still in a bad mood, Andrew started eating some peanuts but spat them out in disgust. He then rudely called the attendant. “These peanuts taste terrible! Get me something better than these disgusting nuts!” he demanded, throwing 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 what I like!” Andrew snapped. “You’re here to serve me. Just go get me something nice to eat, not this lousy junk like peanuts. Now, go!” The nearby passengers stared in disbelief at Andrew’s behavior towards the patient stewardess.
Andrew’s neighboring passenger, the elderly man he’d mocked earlier, interrupted his rude treatment of the flight attendant. “Young man, don’t talk to her like that,” the old man chided. “Just because it’s her job to serve us doesn’t mean you can disrespect her. She’s doing her work, and she’s been doing it well so far. It would be nice if you were kind to her and stopped yelling at her.” “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 composed, walked away.