“I thought you found it uncomfortable having me next to you.”
“That doesn’t mean I want to sit beside a monster!”
I gave her my warmest grandmotherly smile.
“You asked for a smaller seatmate. I found someone who takes up hardly any room at all. And she doesn’t even need snacks.”
The man across the aisle burst into loud laughter.
My former seatmate looked ready to explode. And I had not yet touched the remaining two buttons.
Little by little, the cabin grew quiet again. A flight attendant announced that the lights would soon be dimmed and asked everyone to close their window shades and prepare to sleep.
Reluctantly, my former seatmate lowered hers.
The main lights went out. One by one, passengers switched off their reading lamps, pulled out pillows, and covered themselves with blankets. At last, even the complaining woman fell silent.
From my new seat, I had a clear view of the doll sitting beside her.
I thought about the second button. I had tested that feature at home. When activated, the doll’s eyes glowed a vivid blood-red, as if something wicked had awakened inside it.
My grandson would be thrilled.
I found the remote in my pocket.
Perhaps the joke had already gone far enough. Then I remembered the woman comparing my breathing to a defective vacuum cleaner.
I pressed the button.
The doll’s eyes suddenly blazed red in the darkness.
The woman turned her head. For two full seconds, she made no sound.
Then she screamed so loudly that the pilots may well have heard her.
“IT’S LOOKING AT ME!”
The entire cabin erupted.
A sleeping passenger jerked upright and dropped his pillow. Someone’s phone fell onto the floor. A man in the next row tried to stand and became tangled in his own blanket.
“What happened?”
“Are we landing already?”
“Why is she screaming?”
My former seatmate pressed herself against the window and pointed at the doll with a trembling hand.
“Its eyes! They were glowing red! I saw them!”
I had already released the button.
The flight attendant rushed to the row and switched on the overhead light. The doll sat completely still, looking as innocent as a toy with a cracked face and yellow teeth possibly could.
“What happened this time?” the attendant asked.
“Her eyes lit up! They turned bright red, just like something in a horror movie!”
The flight attendant leaned closer and examined the doll.
“I don’t see anything unusual.”
“Because it stopped! But I’m telling the truth. It was staring directly at me!”
Someone across the aisle remarked, “Maybe it didn’t like your perfume.”
Laughter spread through the nearby rows.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard it hurt.
The woman whirled around and pointed at me.
“It’s her! She’s controlling the toy! I know she is!”
I arranged my face into an expression of complete innocence.
“Controlling what?”
“The doll! You’re making it do all of this!”
I raised my eyebrows.
“I’ve been sitting quietly in my seat the entire time. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Take it away! I’m not staying beside it for another minute!”
The flight attendant looked at me.
“If the toy has electronic features, please switch them off. The other passengers need to rest.”
“Of course. I have no desire to disturb anyone.”
The woman gave an outraged gasp.
“Take that doll! Confiscate it! Put it somewhere I can’t see it!”
The attendant continued speaking politely, although her patience was clearly wearing thin.
“Ma’am, we cannot remove a toy that is permitted in the cabin simply because you dislike its appearance. The electronic features will be turned off.”
“This is outrageous! It has been tormenting me throughout the flight!”
“Your seatmate moved at your request. Since then, the complaints we have received have concerned your shouting.”
The woman stared at her in disbelief.
“So you’re taking her side?”
“I’m trying to make sure every passenger can continue the flight peacefully.”
A man seated behind us leaned forward.
“That woman hasn’t bothered anyone since she moved. You’re the one who woke half the plane.”
Another passenger added, “At least the doll hasn’t complained that its seatmate is taking up too much space.”
Laughter rolled through the surrounding rows.
The woman looked around, apparently hoping someone would defend her. No one did.
“Fine! Then I’ll move myself!” she declared.
The flight attendant checked the remaining seats and offered her a place toward the back of the cabin.
The woman snatched up her bag and phone, muttering angrily that she had been trapped on an airplane full of lunatics.
As she passed me, she stopped and leaned close.
“You’re a horrible woman,” she hissed.
I smiled as warmly as I could.
“Happy Halloween!”
She did not answer. A moment later, she disappeared behind the curtain separating the sections of the cabin.
I looked toward my old seat. My little porcelain companion was still sitting there, showing the world that crooked grin.
For the first time that evening, the doll and I completely agreed with each other.
After the woman had gone, I called the flight attendant over.
“May I return to my original seat?”
“Certainly. Just switch off the doll’s electronic features and put it away.”
“Absolutely. One night of adventure is more than enough.”
I unfastened the little creature, settled it back inside my carry-on, and reclaimed the comfortable aisle seat.
At last, I could stretch my legs and relax without touching or inconveniencing anyone.
A few minutes later, the flight attendant brought me a glass of water. She noticed the black hair sticking out of my bag.
“Your grandson must have a wonderful sense of humor.”
I smiled.
“He inherited it from me.”
She laughed and continued down the aisle.
I leaned back and pictured the children’s faces when they saw the costumes I had made, the candy, and their unusual present. I could almost feel them running toward me and throwing their arms around my waist.
I gently patted the bag and allowed myself a quiet chuckle.
I had bought the doll to prank my grandson. In the end, it gave me one of the most memorable flights of my life.
It also reminded me of something worth remembering: never underestimate a kind-hearted grandmother—especially one traveling to celebrate Halloween with a remote-controlled doll in her carry-on.