I finally got on the plane after working hard for several days. I needed a few hours to relax, watch a movie, and shut off my thoughts, and this flight was going to be my salvation. All I could dream of was calm and quiet. But my dreams were abruptly cut short as soon as the jet started taxiing. A young woman, barely in her twenties, sat in front of me. She immediately threw her thick, long hair over my tray table, blocking out my entire screen.
I wanted to avoid any conflict. She apologized and moved her hair when I gently asked her to. But after ten minutes, her hair had returned to my personal area. I repeated my desire and leaned forward once more. She pretended not to hear me and didn’t even look back. Suddenly, something inside of me clicked. I concluded this soaring beauty required a succinct but memorable lesson.
This is what I did, then. I’ll tell you, and I want to know if you think I made the right decision. Taking three pieces of gum out of my bag, I calmly chewed them one at a time. I then started silently putting them into her hair while maintaining an entirely neutral demeanor. strand by strand. It had been fifteen minutes or so before she realized something was amiss.
She froze as she touched her hair. Screaming as she struggled to get the gum off, she said, “What…is…this?” “This is the result of your arrogance,” I said calmly, keeping my eyes on the TV. “You’re crazy!” And you treat people disrespectfully. You now have two choices. Eventually, you can shave off half of your hair by continuing the flight in this manner. Two: I have a small pair of scissors that I can help you with right now. In my bag are manicure scissors. “Want that?”
The girl turned pale. “If you throw your hair like that again, you’ll be bald the next time,” I said, leaning closer without raising my voice. Even when there is turbulence, I am very accurate. She sat motionless for the rest of the flight. Her hair was appropriately secured in a tight bun, so I unwinded and began watching the film. I relished the tranquility I had earned.
