Since her long hair was splaying across my screen during the flight and obstructing my view, I was forced to discipline this impolite “Rapunzel” 👀 🤔.
I had only one obsession after rushing through papers and meeting deadlines for several days: this trip had to be my way out. A movie, a short nap, and a few hours in the air and at last put daily life behind you.
I sighed with relief as soon as I was comfortable. However, that graceful moment was cut short. A twentysomething passenger had just seated down in front of me. Her dark, flowing hair slipped languidly across my screen at once. Just a curtain of hair, no image.
At first, I decided on diplomacy. A little gesture, a kind word. She put her strands back in front of her and smiled quickly in apology. I believed the situation to be over. However, the hair cascade extended across my seat once more just ten minutes later.
She disregarded my plea this time, acting as though I didn’t exist. At that moment, I had a thought. No yelling, no pointless dispute. No, it was a subtle but memorable lesson.
I quietly grabbed some gum from my backpack and chewed it slowly, one piece at a time, while staring out the window. I then gently started inserting the tiny sticky lumps into her hair, strand by strand, inconspicuously.
Fifteen minutes later, the young woman froze. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she felt its sticky texture. Her expression dropped.
However, what is this?
I kept my eyes glued to my screen. I spoke in a calm voice:
– The results of your impoliteness.
— You’re insane! She spoke in a fright.
I lowered my voice a little and leaned in:
– There are two options for you. Either you complete the flight in this manner, or your hairdresser will use their scissors to fix the issue. Or I use the little nail scissors I have in my bag to deal with it at the moment. Which is your favorite?
She turned pale. And all I could see before landing was a perfect, taut bun.
For my part, I was at last able to enjoy that much-needed period of calm and start my movie.
