After several days of relentless work, I finally found myself boarding the plane. This flight represented my salvation—a few precious hours to shut off my mind, indulge in a movie, and unwind. All I craved was silence and tranquility. However, as soon as the jet began to taxi, my dreams of peace were abruptly shattered.
In front of me was a young woman, seemingly in her twenties. Once she settled into her seat, she tossed her long, thick hair over my tray table, effectively blocking my view of the screen. I wanted to avoid any confrontation, so I politely asked her to move her hair. She offered a quick apology and complied.
But, just ten minutes later, her hair reappeared in my space, cascading over my tray once more. I leaned forward again and reiterated my request. This time, she didn’t even turn around; it was as if she was pretending I didn’t exist. A spark of determination flickered within me, and I realized that this soaring beauty needed a brief but memorable lesson in respect.
Here’s what I decided to do. I’m curious if you think my response was justified. I slowly retrieved three pieces of gum from my bag, chewing them one by one with a calm demeanor. Then, maintaining a completely neutral attitude, I began to quietly insert the gum into her hair, strand by strand. Time passed, and about fifteen minutes later, she finally turned around, sensing something was amiss.
She touched her hair and froze, panic washing over her face. “What…is…this?” she screamed, struggling to free her locks from the sticky mess. Without diverting my gaze from the TV, I coolly replied, “This is the result of your arrogance.”
“You’re insane!” she shot back, her voice laced with disbelief. “And you are disrespectful,” I countered. “Now, you have two options: you can either continue this flight looking like this and risk having to shave half your hair off, or I can assist you right now with a small pair of scissors I have in my bag. What will it be?”
Her face drained of color as the reality of her situation sank in. I leaned in closer, speaking softly yet firmly, “If you throw your hair like that again, you’ll find yourself bald next time. I’m very precise—even in turbulence.”
From that moment on, she sat in silence, her hair neatly tied back into a tight bun. I finally allowed myself to relax and immerse in the movie. At last, I could savor the peace I had so desperately sought.