On the flight home, Crystal and her husband Alton encounter an annoying female passenger who keeps kicking Alton’s seat. After repeatedly asking her to stop, Crystal decides to take matters into her own hands.
Last night we were on a plane with my husband. We were finally coming home after spending a week at his parents’ house. I couldn’t wait to be in my own bed again.
‘The thing I missed the most was our shower,’ Alton said. ‘Mum and Dad are fine, but our water pressure is second to none.’
We boarded the plane and it seemed like everything was going to go smoothly.
‘Come on, I’ll get your bags, Crystal,’ Alton said, taking my rucksack.
We finally settled into our seats, and soon the hum of the engines was the soothing white noise I needed to relax during the flight.
But as I pushed my seat back, I noticed something that immediately made my teeth grit. A woman in the row behind us had placed her bare feet on my husband’s seat.
‘Why?’ I muttered to myself, while the woman kicked Alton’s chair. She was chatting animatedly with her friend, completely oblivious to how rude she was being.
I looked at my husband, hoping he would do something about it. He’s usually so patient, but this was too much even for him.
‘Would you put your feet down?’ – He asked, turning to face the woman.
She glanced at him, exchanged a few words with her friend, and then laughed. I couldn’t hear exactly what she said, but it was clear that her legs weren’t going anywhere.
Then it was time for the in-flight safety protocol, so we all sat up straight and paid attention for a few minutes. But after a few minutes, the woman started chattering again, her feet constantly pushing into my husband’s seat.
Alton turned around again, this time his voice was firmer.
‘Hey, could you please get your feet off my chair? This is getting kind of annoying.’
Of course, this time the woman didn’t even bother to respond. She just rolled her eyes and continued the conversation, sitting down firmly in his seat.
I could see my husband’s shoulders tense. It was going to be a long flight.
‘Honey, why don’t you get a stewardess?’ I suggested, trying to keep my voice calm.
I didn’t want to get involved just yet. And I knew Alton didn’t want me to get involved either. We both knew how petty and ridiculous I could be if called upon to do so.
He nodded and stood up, heading down the aisle. A moment later he returned with a stewardess in tow.
She was a tall woman with a stern demeanour.
‘Oh, she’ll make it all right,’ I muttered to Alton as he sat down.
The stewardess leaned over and spoke to the woman behind us, her voice low and commanding.
‘I just wanted to take a nap,’ Alton said.
My husband yawned and closed his eyes.
But I turned to see the woman’s reaction.
She was clearly annoyed and finally put her feet down. I thought that would be the end of it, but no sooner had the stewardess stepped back than she raised her legs again.
How cheeky is that?!
At this point petite Crystal was ready to assert herself.
Who does she think she is? Why was it so important to her that her feet were on someone else’s seat? She was just being rude.
I glanced at Alton, who was feeling awkward and trying to ignore the feet pressed against his seat.
That was it.
I could hear the drinks trolley making its way down the aisle and my plan was easy to execute.
‘What can I get you?’ – The stewardess asked Alton and me.
‘I’ll take a gin and tonic,’ Alton replied without hesitation.
‘And I’ll take a bottle of water,’ I said.
I slowly unscrewed the cap and, without taking a sip, smiled.
‘What are you doing?’ – He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
‘Just trusting me,’ I replied.
Carelessly leaning back in my chair, I tipped the bottle and poured half of the contents onto the woman’s bag that was wedged between her chair and my husband’s.
The water seeped into the fabric and immediately darkened.
Petty Crystal was here to play.
But the woman never realised what I had done.
Then I took the rest of my husband’s drink.
‘Crystal,’ he grinned. ‘I know exactly what you’re going to do.’
‘Then let me do it,’ I stated.
I slipped my arm through the armrest and aimed straight for her legs. I emptied my glass.
‘Ew!’ the woman shrieked, pulling back so fast she almost kicked her friend.
She tugged at my sleeve and stared at me.
‘Did you just drop your drink on my feet?’ – She demanded.
I turned to face her and made the most innocent expression on my face.
‘Oh, I’m really sorry about that. Turbulence and all that. I wasn’t in control.’
The woman opened her mouth to object, but then seemed to change her mind.
Instead, she muttered something to herself and turned to her friend, who was staring at her with wide-eyed wonderment.