Seventeen-year-old Andrew was accustomed to getting what he wanted and behaving poorly when he didn’t achieve it. His father, however, decided it was time Andrew learned a lesson about respect when he mistreated a flight attendant.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?”
Steven had been watching his seventeen-year-old son walk toward the airport boarding gate, but now he looked down at his wife.
“Of course Andrew will be okay,” he replied.
“I hope this new school can help him learn some humility.”
“What if they treat him badly in the dorms?” Steven’s wife looked up at him. “He’s never been to boarding school before.”
“That’s the point.” Steven clenched his jaw. “Andrew has become spoiled and needs to learn some difficult truths about life.”
Months later, Andrew was flying home for the holidays after his first semester of boarding school. He’d hated every minute of his time there and was eager to return to his high-powered computer and the luxury car he received for his sixteenth birthday.
“Hey, you.” Andrew waved to the flight attendant, a redhead woman with freckles.
“How can I help you, sir?” The flight attendant smiled at him.
“You can get me something superior to these peanuts for a snack.” Andrew threw the bag of peanuts at her.
The flight attendant’s smile transformed into a frown. “Sir, please do not throw objects at me.”
“I’ll do as I please,” Andrew replied. “You’re here to serve me, so cease complaining and perform your duties.”
“Do not speak to her in that manner.” The older man in the seat beside Andrew turned to look at him.
“Her profession does not grant you the right to disrespect her.”
Andrew rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers at the flight attendant. “I’m still awaiting my snack.”
The flight attendant walked away with her eyes downcast. The older man in the next seat shook his head.
“Your parents must experience profound disappointment in you,” the elderly man muttered.
“No one solicited your opinion, old man.” Andrew began scrolling through the movie options.
After a few minutes, the flight attendant returned with a pretzel.
“Here you go, sir,” she said and extended the pretzel to him. “If there’s anything else —”
Andrew sneered and slapped the pretzel from her hand. “I do not desire a pretzel!”
The flight attendant recoiled, tears forming in her eyes. “Peanuts and pretzels are the only snacks served on this flight.”
“That’s pathetic, as are you.” Andrew leaned forward in his seat. “Go and fetch me a proper snack, immediately!”
“How dare you speak to her in such a way?” A woman rose from her seat across the aisle and placed a hand on the flight attendant’s arm.
“Had she performed her duties correctly, I would not have to,” Andrew stated, pointing at the flight attendant.
“She is a server, and an inadequate one.”
The flight attendant burst into tears. The woman passenger attempted to comfort her.
“Someone should administer a physical reprimand to you, young man.” The elderly passenger in the seat next to Andrew scowled at him.
“I agree.” Someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
At that moment, Andrew grasped what his father had been striving to teach him.
Andrew recognized that voice. He turned and stared in surprise when he saw his dad behind him. His face was red with anger.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Andrew asked.
“Flying home from a business trip,” Steven replied. “I hoped we might meet on the plane, but I never imagined it would be like this. Apologize to this young lady and the other passengers immediately.”
Andrew hunched his shoulders and mumbled an apology. He did not perceive the gravity of the situation, but he knew better than to disobey his father when Steven was so angry.
When Andrew and his father arrived home, Steven marched him directly to his office on the second floor of their luxurious house.
“This ceases right now.”
Steven shut the door and turned to point at Andrew. “Your behavior is repugnant. I hoped that you might acquire manners in boarding school, but it seems I was mistaken.”
“Why are you making such a significant issue out of this?” Andrew extended his arms. “She is merely a flight attendant. Her importance is not considerable.”
“And that is your problem, Andrew. You believe you are superior to others because you were born into a wealthy family, and that you can treat others poorly for that reason.” Steven crossed his arms. “That will change.”
“What does that imply?”
“You will not return to that school. You will complete your education at a public school, and you will spend your holiday working.”
“Working?” Andrew straightened. “Are you offering me a position at your company?”
Steven smiled. “One could say that. I am assigning you a role in my cleaning company, as a janitor.”
Andrew was horrified.
“I refuse to do it!”
“You will comply, because I am also revoking all your privileges. I am taking your bank cards, your computer, your car, and your cell phone. I am even confiscating your branded apparel.” Steven placed his hands on his hips. “You will discover what it means to show respect to individuals.”
Andrew had no choice. His father confiscated his possessions, and he commenced his employment as an airport janitor the following day.
Andrew possessed no knowledge of cleaning. The older woman to whom he was assigned chuckled at his inability to sweep or mop. He yelled at her for her amusement and threatened to have her dismissed.
“No, you will not,” she replied, shaking her finger at him. “Your father cautioned me about you; now commence your work. These floors do not clean themselves.”
Andrew sighed and began sweeping. He was clumsy, and his supervisor teased him about it. Andrew grew angry, but there was nothing he could do.
He was cleaning the trash cans when something impacted him. He turned and observed that someone had thrown an empty takeaway carton at him.
“Hey!” Andrew shouted at the man who’d thrown the carton. “How dare you throw that at me.”
The man ignored Andrew, so Andrew pursued him and seized his arm.
“I am addressing you,” Andrew stated.
The man forcefully dislodged Andrew, causing him to fall to the ground. “Remove your filthy hands from me, you dirty janitor.”
Andrew observed the man walk away in shock. Was this the experience of being treated as if one held no significance? Andrew found it unpleasant. He looked around just as someone kicked him.
“Move out of the way, you idle person.” The woman who had kicked him sneered.
“I will report you for sleeping on the job.”
At that moment, Andrew comprehended what his father had been attempting to impart. He now understood the profound hurt inflicted by individuals who believed themselves superior.
A flash of red caught his eye, and Andrew looked up. He recognized the flight attendant he had been rude to and hurried toward her.
“I am truly sorry,” he said when he reached her. “I treated you so poorly.”
The woman appeared surprised to see him, but she smiled when he apologized.
“I am pleased you have recognized your error,” she stated.
What insights can we glean from this narrative?
Everyone merits respect. Whether an individual holds a modest position, they remain a person and deserve to be treated with dignity.
Occasionally, young people need to learn difficult lessons through experience. It can be challenging for them to grasp the true implications of important life principles if they have not directly encountered the situations.
Share this story with your acquaintances. It might brighten their day and offer inspiration.
