Ian and his family of four were off to Hong Kong. Flight time was a whopping 16 hours.
The four took up almost the full middle row of the airplane. Ian graciously offered to sit next to the stranger – a 5-foot Asian man who had all his technology scattered out on his folding tray.
Mr. Technology was on his tablet, in the zone. His jawbone, earbuds, Bluetooth keyboard, iPhone, Google glass, a USB powered personal fan and mini-light, and of course a Smartpen – all accompanied his iPad air 2.
Fruits, cookies, peanuts, pretzels, chocolate and a warm meal kept passengers busy munching.
Next came drinks.
A flight attendant came down the aisle and asked Ian what he wanted to drink.
Ian: “Sprite, please.”
As the flight attendant nearly finished pouring his drink, a tiny bit of turbulence began.
The flight attendant reached over Mr. Technology to hand Ian the drink.
Turbulence increased immensely.
Ian: “Ma’am, I think I’ll pass. I don’t want it to spill.”
(Mr. Technology stared up frightfully at the cup)
Flight attendant: “The turbulence will go away in a second. Just take it.”
Ian: “I don’t want it. Trust me, it will spill.”
Flight attendant: “I can’t take it back now that I have poured it. You have to take it.”
Ian: “Please lady. No.”
Flight attendant: “Please take it. My trash is full. Just drink it quickly.”
Turbulence peaked. The drink started to splash around.
Mr. Technology hovered his hands over his gear and leaned down in hopes to shield his fancy equipment.
Flight attendant: “Take the drink!”
Ian: “I don’t want it!”
Flight attendant: “Take it!”
Ian: “I don’t want it anymore!!”
Flight attendant: “Take it so I can take shelter in back! This turbulence is unsafe!”
Ian had to give in for her safety.
He reached over to grab the drink. Of course the Sprite spilled all over Mr. Technology’s balding head, his tablet, and his whole technology spread.
It also fell all over Ian’s pants.
Before any more could spill, Ian quickly chugged the quarter cup that was left.
The obnoxious air hostess ran to her safe zone as fast as she could.
Ian’s family was knocked out the entire time.
All Ian had to clean up with was the tiny, dinky napkin the flight attendant gave him with his dripping Sprite.
He kindly offered it to Mr. Technology.
Jennifer Chan, who’s been a flight attendant for 25 years with a major airline, of Davis, California:
“As soon as it starts to get bumpy, everybody wants to give you everything back,” Jennifer said. “If that had been me, I would have not given the drink. I would have taken it back and dealt with it somehow.”
Jennifer has certainly seen her share of incidents with people spilling their coffee or wine on another passenger.
“Luckily, now our electronic equipment is a lot more durable,” she said. “It didn’t used to be that way.”
Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this short story, excluding interviews, are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
