Kill them with kindness

I NEED a rich benefactor that will allow me to travel in business class. I may be getting old and cranky, but the seat space in economy class airplanes is getting smaller and smaller. It could cause serious social upheaval.

- ASHLEY GREEN-THOMPSON

So because of this, I try to be considerate when lowering my seat back into the reclining position. On a recent overnight trip, I turned and saw the woman behind me head down on the tray table, blanket over her head, and trying to fall asleep. My leaning back would have abruptly ended that project, so I gently tapped her shoulder to warn her of my impending interruption.

She wasn’t happy, and through red-rimmed eyes complained of her sinuses that don’t allow her to sleep leaning backwards. Before I could be kind and offer her an antihistamine, she covered her head again to mark the end of our exchange.

Her protest at being stuffed into the cylindrical sardine can that is economy class continued, however, and she actively made sure to knock my seat each time she shifted to find her best sleeping position.

Again I gently tapped her blanketed form to ask her to desist, and unleashed a tirade about how little room there was.