“I’m not addressing them. I’m saying what everyone is thinking.”
“No,” the captain said evenly. “You’re saying what you’re thinking.”
The man’s jaw tightened.
“This kid has been making noise for half the flight, and now the whole crew is hovering around him.”
“He’s seven,” I said.
The man shrugged.
“Exactly. Maybe wait until he can handle flying.”
The captain’s expression changed.
Not anger. Something quieter.
“He’s not being removed. He hasn’t endangered anyone, and he isn’t doing anything that requires removal.”
The man gestured toward us.
“So he gets special treatment.”
“Assisting a passenger who’s having difficulty isn’t special treatment.”
The captain’s voice stayed calm.
“You’ve been asked more than once to leave him alone. I’m asking you again.”
People nearby were openly watching now.
The man looked around, seemed to realize nobody was joining him, and finally turned toward his window.
The captain started to hand the airplane back.
