Carl made his way down the crowded aisle, scanning the rows overhead for his seat assignment. Finding his row, he attempted to lift his carry-on into the crammed overhead bin, jammed full of other passengers’ luggage. After several attempts, he managed to shove it in, the metal edges of the bin cutting into his fingers.
Sucking in a deep breath, he plopped down in his seat. His knees immediately hit the seatback in front of him. Carl tried to make himself comfortable, but with his knees jammed against the seat in front of him, it was futile. He twisted and turned, attempting to find a position that didn’t leave his legs throbbing in pain.
The passenger next to him, an elderly woman, shot him an irritated look. “Would you stop squirming around so much, young man?” she scolded. “Some of us are trying to relax.” “Sorry,” Carl muttered, leaning back with a sigh. This was going to be a very long five hours. He glanced enviously at the passengers up in business class as they reclined their plush seats and sipped champagne.
Gazing out the window, Carl resigned himself. Just a few more hours of discomfort and he’d be home. He had to stay positive. For now, he would close his eyes, retreat into his music, and imagine himself far away on a beach vacation. However, this quest for peace was soon to be disrupted by the mischievous kicks of a young boy seated directly behind him.
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