He struggled to maintain his composure, his mind racing with retorts. But he remembered the advice he’d just been given and, with a monumental effort, chose to remain silent, focusing all his energy on calming his frayed nerves. But then the kicking started again…
Carl took a deep breath as he felt another kick against his seat. He knew he needed to handle this situation calmly, for his own peace of mind as well as for the other passengers. Turning around, he looked at the young boy and gave him a gentle smile. “Hey buddy, do you think you could stop kicking my seat? It’s making it hard for me to relax,” he said in a friendly tone.