She was simply sitting there, looking out the window.
As the aircraft descended through the clouds, she turned toward me.
“Martha?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you think I’m a bad person?”
The question caught me off guard.
I looked at her carefully before answering.
“I think you behaved badly today. That is not the same thing as saying your entire character is beyond hope.”
She listened without interrupting.
“What matters now is what you do with the lesson. You can decide that everyone was against you, that I was cruel, and that the whole world is unfair. Or you can remember that you were given several chances to show consideration for another person, and you chose not to take them.”
I paused.
“Next time, choose differently.”
Brittany nodded.
“I want to.”
“Then start with something small. Put your phone away when someone is speaking to you. Say thank you when someone helps you. Apologize when you hurt someone. And remember that nobody owes you attention simply because you want it.”
