The mother, now visibly flustered and damp, struggled to find words. “What the—why would you—” she stammered, her previous composure shattered by the unexpected drenching. Carl continued, “It’s quite difficult to hold onto things when one’s seat is being kicked repeatedly, you see.”
The passengers around them had seen everything that happened. Their reactions were mixed. Some nodded sympathetically at Carl. They seemed to understand his frustration, probably having been annoyed by seat kicking themselves. Their faces showed they felt sorry for Carl.