Agnia had paused in the aisle and was looking intently at her window seat on the plane.The young woman took a few moments to take it all in, even though people were swarming behind her, some of them noisily growing impatient.Seven hours of flight in a large aircraft.Thirty rows of seats, three on each side.Agnia had picked her window seat with care because she detested the stewardesses pushing carts, people walking, kids playing, etc. However, she wasn’t bothered by noise.
She understood how to keep herself occupied, listen to music, or divert her attention as a business traveler, and she had long since purchased noise-cancelling headphones.She intended to sleep tonight because she was really exhausted and wanted to be in shape the following day.However, it seems that was not a given.
A woman with a robust frame took the middle seat.It’s not quite the behemoth you see on American obesity programs, but it’s still not small.Agnia could see that one seat was insufficient, so she used an extension to fasten her seatbelt.
The woman occupied Agnia’s personal space and most likely the space of the individual who was meant to take the aisle seat by sitting with her legs slightly apart.Or perhaps… — Good evening, — Agnia gestured to her neighbor and indicated the seat in the aisle.
I apologize, but is this also your seat?”What, my seat?” the woman asked, clearly perplexed.— Your chair. Mine is in the middle, though.Behind Agnia, a displeased voice interrupted, “Madam, please sit down.”She responded, “Go ahead,” and shifted slightly to the side to give the people more space.”So, there are three of us here, you, me, and someone else?” she asked her neighbor again.— Indeed, precisely.— Excellent, I get it.
Agnia took a quick look at the issue. Although she weighed sixty kg, her neighbor’s enormous leg would nonetheless unavoidably encroach into her personal space despite her ideal weight.The young woman sighed and hit the stewardess’s call button.The woman next her narrowed her eyes and gave her a dubious look.The stewardess smiled professionally and inquired, “How may I be of assistance to you?””I’m sitting by the window,” Agnia said coolly.— Our flight is scheduled to last seven hours.I worry that there won’t be enough room for my neighbor and me. It’ll be too little, and “Hey!” exclaimed the woman, flushed with rage.— You thin herring, what are you whining about?”I don’t mind,” Agnia replied, shrugging her shoulders.If you don’t mind, I’ll be blunt: you ought to have reserved two seats for yourself.
Or take a business class flight.Neither you nor us will feel at ease in the current circumstance.I haven’t given you any grounds to belittle me, by the way.—I don’t require an explanation!The stewardess stepped in and said, “Look, let’s settle this calmly.”—That’s precisely what I recommend,” Agnia concurred.The stewardess sighed and said, “Unfortunately, there are no seats left in economy class.”—That is truly unfortunate.Are there any other choices?The stewardess let out another sigh.—You can travel in business class with me.—You?”In business class?” the woman exclaimed.— And me?Should I remain here?The stewardess responded in a neutral tone, “Unfortunately, there is only one seat left in business class, and the seats are only slightly wider than in economy.”I’ll reschedule this traveler.You will sit much more comfortably than in business class, and the window seat will be free.She turned to face Agnia and asked, “Will you accompany me?”— With delight.
Thank you.The stewardess was followed by Agnia under the lady’s gloomy gaze.When there are no more available seats and you begin to receive these kinds of complaints, what do you do? As she took the new seat, Agnia asked.This time it was next to a charming young man who was also sporting noise-canceling headphones, rather than beside the window.”Well,” the hostess said in a pensive tone, “we are flying.”— In a tense environment, to be sure.— I appreciate your assistance, — Agnia grinned.— I appreciate you not raising a big fuss.Oh, I practice law.I’ve practiced.Before departing, the stewardess said, “We will serve the food and drinks soon.”Agnia pulled out her e-reader and headphones and stretched her legs.She was just happy that she had received what she wanted and had the guts to speak up, without feeling angry or resentful.There was a solution.Agnia opened the novel she had begun and thought, “A peaceful way out.” “I may have gotten myself into trouble during the body-positive era. But if the trip had been delayed, would she have been comfortable for seven hours, or even longer? The fact that she takes up physical space from me irritates me, regardless of her weight. As she went by, the stewardess declared, “We’re ready to take off.” Put on your seat belt, please. Agnia buckled up and went back to reading.
