On a long flight from New York to London, I hoped for a quiet trip with my books. Unfortunately, a teenage boy next to me blasted his TV show, and his mom, seated in the aisle, acted as if she owned the plane.

After asking the boy to lower the volume without success, I tried to enjoy the night sky through the window. But the teen repeatedly pulled down the shade, and his mom snapped, “He needs his sleep!”

Tension grew until the flight attendant arrived. The mom complained loudly, but I calmly explained my need for light to read. The flight attendant listened and then surprised me with a solution: “We have an empty seat in business class if you’d like.”

I gratefully accepted, moving to a spacious, quiet seat. The flight attendant then brought a large man to fill my spot, squeezing the teen and his mom uncomfortably.

Settling into business class, I enjoyed the peaceful environment, savoring the view and the thoughtful service. The flight attendant even brought me a glass of champagne. As I read my book, I glanced back, seeing the teen and his mom cramped and unhappy, while the new passenger snored blissfully beside them.

Thanks to the flight attendant’s quick thinking, my journey turned into a delightful escape. The mother and son were left to reflect on their earlier rudeness, experiencing firsthand the discomfort they had imposed on others.