Steven had been observing his seventeen-year-old son, Andrew, as he walked towards the boarding gate at the airport. A sense of unease lingered in his mind.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Steven’s wife asked, her voice tinged with worry.

“Of course Andrew will be okay,” Steven replied, though his tone was firm. “This new school will teach him some much-needed humility.”

“But what if he struggles in the dorms?” his wife pressed. “He’s never been away from home before.”

“That’s the point,” Steven said resolutely. “Andrew has become insufferably spoiled. He needs to face some tough realities.”

Months later, Andrew was flying home for the holidays, eager to escape the boarding school’s discipline and return to his high-tech gadgets and luxury car.

Upon boarding, he noticed a flight attendant, a redhead with freckles, approaching. “Hey, you,” Andrew called out dismissively.

“How can I help you, sir?” the attendant asked with a polite smile.

“You can get me something better than these peanuts,” Andrew demanded, tossing the packet at her.

The attendant’s smile faltered. “Sir, please don’t throw things at me.”

“I’ll do what I like,” Andrew retorted. “You’re here to serve me. Stop complaining and get me a proper snack.”

The elderly man sitting next to Andrew interjected, “You should show some respect. Just because it’s her job to serve doesn’t mean you can be rude.”

Andrew rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers at the flight attendant. “I’m still waiting for my snack.”

The attendant, her demeanor growing more subdued, walked away. The elderly man shook his head, muttering under his breath.

“Your parents must be so disappointed in you,” he said.

Andrew ignored him, engrossed in the movie selections. When the flight attendant returned with a pretzel, Andrew sneered and slapped it out of her hand. “I don’t want a pretzel! Fetch me a real snack now!”

The attendant, tears welling up, explained that peanuts and pretzels were the only snacks available. Andrew’s attitude drew the ire of other passengers, and a woman across the aisle stood up in defense of the attendant.

“Somebody ought to teach you a lesson,” she said.

A voice from behind made Andrew freeze. He turned to see his father, Steven, looking furiously at him.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Andrew stammered.

“Returning from a business trip,” Steven said. “I hoped we might meet on this flight, but I didn’t expect to see you behaving like this. Apologize to the flight attendant and the other passengers immediately.”

Andrew mumbled a begrudging apology, sensing his father’s anger.

Back home, Steven took Andrew to his office and shut the door. “This stops now,” he declared.

“I hoped boarding school would correct your behavior, but clearly, I was mistaken. Your entitlement has gone too far.”

Andrew protested, “Why are you making such a big deal out of this? She’s just a flight attendant.”

“And that’s exactly the problem,” Steven said, crossing his arms. “You think you’re superior because of our wealth and can mistreat people. That ends now.”

“What does that mean?” Andrew asked, alarmed.

“You’ll finish your education at a public school. For the holidays, you’ll work in my cleaning company as a janitor.”

Andrew was horrified. “I won’t do it!”

“You will. I’m also taking away all your privileges: your bank cards, computer, car, cell phone, and branded clothes. You’re going to learn respect.”

Andrew had no choice. His father confiscated his possessions, and he began his job as a janitor the next day.

Unfamiliar with cleaning tasks, Andrew struggled and was mocked by his supervisor. When a passerby threw trash at him and an irate woman kicked him, Andrew began to understand his father’s lesson. He experienced firsthand the indignity of being disrespected and ignored.

Amidst this, he saw the flight attendant he had mistreated. Overcome with remorse, Andrew approached her.

“I’m truly sorry for how I treated you,” he said earnestly.

The attendant, surprised, smiled kindly. “I’m glad you’ve recognized your mistakes.”

 What We Can Learn from This Story:

1. **Respect for All**: Everyone deserves respect, regardless of their job or social status. Treating others with dignity is essential.

2. **The Value of Hard Lessons**: Sometimes, children must experience the consequences of their actions directly to grasp the significance of respect and humility.