Being Polite
by cAmilla Wu

Flight: Los Angeles to Taipei
Flying hour: Thirteen Hours
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747

The sun shines radiantly.
The azure sky embraces daylight gently.
The air at the airport smells fresh and busy. 

Flight attendant: Good morning! Welcome aboard. (The flight attendant greets the passengers professionally. )
Passenger A: Good morning. (The passanger seems to be in a good mood.)
Flight attendant: Hi, Good morning! (She keeps on passing her enthusiasm.)
Passenger B: (Showing his smile, he expresses himself with his body language.)
Passenger A: Hmm... my seat is right here. (Pointing at 45D, he starts to put his luggage away gently and slowly. Not before too long, a line of five or six people appears after him. Passenger B is waiting right after him. Feeling some pressure from behind, he desides to let the others pass through first. )
Passenger B: Oh. Don't worry. After you. (Carrying two pieces of luggage, he shows his patience and affability without noticing more people are waiting right after him at the same moment.)
Passenger A: Thank you. (Accepting his offer, he keeps on arranging his carry-ons.)
Flight attendant: (Looking at the line getting longer and longer, she knows that she needs to do something.) Excuse me, Sir. Would you please step inside for a moment so that we can let the others pass through first?
Passenger A: Sure! (He gives his way to Passsenger B.)
Passenger B: It's ok. I can wait.
Flight attendant: Uhm... (Considering that it is not a perfect time for people to be highly polite at this rush moment, she asks the Passenger B his seat number so that she might be able to help with his luggage as well.) What is your seat number, Sir?
Passenger B: 45D. (Looking at the full over-head compartments, he frowns.) Where should I put my luggage?
Flight attendant: (Actually, this is the right moment that needs everyone's patience. She hopes that people can agree on this point.) Would you try to put it there? (Pointing to some space remaining in the over-head compartment, she tries to encourage him.)
Passenger A: Mine is 45 D too. (He is now in his seat.)
Passenger B: This small space? It won't fit.
Flight attendant: Would you give it a try?
Passenger B: I said it won't fit. (Squishing and pushing his carry-on to others' violently, apparently, he loses his patience. Staring at the luggage, he finally complains.) Yeah, right!(People behind him become fidgety cause of his acts.)
Flight attendant: Sir, (Talking to Passenger B, she tries to solve this problem and calm down his emotion. She prays for his patience and politeness.) Would you please come here and stay by the exit for a moment? I'll help you with luggage and your seat. (The other fight attendants come to help with the situation. After making the other passengers pass through, she asks the assist from the seated passenger.) Sir, is this your carry-on? Would you mind moving it to the other side because your carry-on is smaller and it might fit the space? May I help you with moving it?
Passenger C: No. It's ok. I'll hold it by myself. (He doesn't like his carry-on being moved to other place. He has too many bags that need to be taken care of.)
Flight attendant: Sir, is this carry-on yours as well?
Passenger C: Yes. (Grabing his bags from her hand, he shows the look of unpleasantness.)
Flight attendant: (Knowing that either he doesn't really feel like offering any help or he doesn't have any clue upon how to improve the situation, she puts his bags back to the same place and turns to the others.) Excuse me, Madam. Is it yours? I might need to move it to the side a bit so that we can have some space for this gentleman's carry-on. And Sir, may I take a look at your boarding pass, please?
Passenger D: Sure.
Passenger A: Oh. Actually mine is 46 D. Haa...(He tries to break the ice.)
Flight attendant: Good. Now Problems Solved. Sir, this is the space for your luggage and your seat is right here.
Passenger B: (Putting his baggage away without saying anything, trying to get his mood back, he is the last passenger to sit down.)
Flight attendant: (What a polite situation! Giving him a smile, she hopes next time people can pick the right time to show their courtesy and patience.)
The Other Flight attendants: What had hapened? Why did it take so long to get ready? Is that passenger ok?

Flight attendant: You might need luck to see people all of a sudden become polite at the same time. People were givng their ways and waiting for each other. That's the case and that's why it takes longer time. He is fine now.