As the crowded airliner prepared for takeoff, the calm was shattered by the wild tantrum of a five-year-old boy. His frustrated, embarrassed mother tried everything to soothe him, but the boy only screamed louder and kicked the seats around him, much to the dismay of the nearby passengers.
Suddenly, from the back of the plane, an elderly man dressed in the uniform of an Air Force General slowly walked up the aisle. With a soft, reassuring hand gesture, he stopped the frazzled mother and bent down to whisper something into the boy’s ear, motioning toward the decorations on his chest.
Almost immediately, the boy stopped crying, gently took his mother’s hand, and quietly fastened his seat belt. The entire plane erupted into spontaneous applause.
As the General made his way back to his seat, one of the flight attendants, curious and impressed, approached him. “Excuse me, General,” she asked, “but what did you say to that little boy?”
The General smiled gently and said, “I showed him my pilot’s wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and I told him they gave me the authority to throw one passenger out of the plane on any flight I choose.”
Nifty.
ReplyDeleteedutcher, he has a way with kids.
DeleteI saw something similar. I was in the ER in the 60s when a 10 year old came in with a small cut on his knee. He was screaming like a girl. Nothing could help and his parents were all around him trying to pacify the kid. Nothing helped. The surgeon arrived. He was ex-military and had a Jap plane enter his surgery suit on a destroyer, now in Baton Rouge. He was thrown is a pile of dead where he stayed for two days. Finally someone saw him and ascertained that he was still alive. It took several years to get him functional. It looked like the plane had exploded in his face and he only had one eye. He ushered the family out of the room with kind reassurances and went over to the kid. Got in his face and said shut up. The kid did not move or cry the rest of the night.
ReplyDeletedavid7134, yup that would do it.
DeleteNow that is some fear mongering I can get behind
ReplyDeleteAnon, and it worked so well.
DeleteNow, that's funny, right there.
ReplyDeleteI understand, that should have been my fate on a trans-Atlantic flight to Scotland when I was 18mo. I think my mother has hated me since...
Dakota Viking, mothers can get like that sometimes.
DeleteChange in cabin pressure affects infants. Can't explain, only vocalise. Nothing more primal than crying. Onboard aircraft I make allowance for crying babies. Poor guy.
DeleteNurse, I'll have another double, please.
When in proximity of a whiney kid acting out, I act out too. I lock eyes on the brat and with all the authority vested in me by toxic masculinity, in a firm voice I tell them to be quiet. If they act bewildered as if to challenge I say, No! while still eyes locked on them. They get the message.
ReplyDeleteThe recalcitrant mother not so much. She feigns offense. As if to say, How dare you. My response; How dare you for not controlling your spawn. That's usually when they start melting.
But it works and I've won my peace. Others sometimes express thanks.
It's not age, I was born cranky to ill manners.
Rick, so you don't take any shit.
DeletePretty neat.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Odie.
You all be safe and God bless.
LindaG, ah ... fun times.
Delete