A mother-of-three is criticised by a millionaire for travelling in business class, but all of his grievances are forgotten when the pilot greets them and makes a special announcement only for her.
“Gah! You can’t mean business! Is this where you’re forcing her to sit? You had better take action, Miss. A mother-of-three was approaching his nearby seats with a stewardess’s help, and Louis Newman moaned.
The stewardess apologised and showed him the tickets in her kind reply. “We are unable to change the fact that Mrs. Debbie Brown and her kids have been given these seats. I would ask that you please assist us.”
“Miss, you don’t get it! I have an important meeting with investors from overseas. I can’t afford to lose this contract because her kids will keep talking and making sounds.”
“Sir….”
Debbie cut the stewardess off just as she was getting started. “Everything is OK. If the other people are willing to switch seats with my kids and me, I can sit somewhere else. For me, that is not a problem.
“Not at all, ma’am!” retorted the hostess. “You have the right to be here because you paid for the seat you’re in! Whether someone loves it or not is irrelevant, and sir,” she turned to face Louis, “I would like it if you could wait for the flight to be over.”
Rich businessman Louis Newman was displeased that the waitress had turned down his request, but he was more displeased that he had to take a seat next to a woman dressed cheaply on the aircraft, who didn’t seem to belong in business class.
After helping her kids firmly settle into their chairs, the mother sat next to him. He turned his face away and put on his AirPods to avoid being forced into conversation.
The flight took off as soon as the boarding procedure was over and everyone was seated in their designated seats.
The kids started chirping with excitement as the plane took off because it was Debbie and her kids’ first time travelling in business class. Stacey, her daughter, exclaimed, “Mom!” “Look, at last, we’re taking off! Cheers!”
Some of the other passengers on the plane turned to stare at Stacey, smiling at her naivety, but Louis’s attitude was disdainful. He turned to face Debbie and whispered, “Listen.” Would you kindly ask your kids to keep quiet? I’m attending a meeting from here because I missed my last flight. Any form of interruption is not what I want.”
Debbie answered, “I’m sorry,” and gestured for the kids to keep quiet. Debbie learned from Louis’s frequent mention of fabrics and the fact he carried a guidebook containing designs that he was a businessman primarily involved in the fabrics industry during their nearly two-hour encounter.
Debbie came up to Louis after his meeting was over and said, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Although Louis didn’t want to talk to her, he was relieved that his meeting had gone well and the investors had approved the agreement, so he swallowed his haughtiness. “Well…Yes, please, proceed.
“I saw that you have a handbook with patterns and samples of fabrics. Do you have a job in the apparel sector?”
You could say that, I guess. I run a clothes business in New York. A deal had just closed. It worked, even though I hadn’t really hoped it would.”
Oh, how beautiful that is. Best wishes! Actually, I’m a Texas small-business owner. It’s primarily a family event. My in-laws in New York started it. We just launched a location in Texas. The designs you were showcasing truly amazed me.”
Louis laughed sarcastically at her. “Many thanks, dear! However, my company hires some of the top designers, and we recently struck a contract with the best design firm in the world, so the designs we produce are not like something from a little local or family store! A BRAND NEW? Really? He smirked and said enough to make fun of Debbie.
Debbie was embarrassed by his remark and said, “Oh, well,” but she remained composed. “I – I recognise. It must be a really significant thing for you.”
“Something huge?” Louis shook his head and grinned. “It was a million-dollar deal, but a poor woman like you would never comprehend what it means! He paused for a moment and continued, “Let me ask you this again.”
“I mean, I saw all of your tickets. You may be travelling with us in business class, but you don’t seem like the kind of person who should be here! Perhaps the next time, attempt economy and find others that own boutiques similar to yours.”
By now Debbie’s patience was wearing thin. “Listen, sir,” she admonished him. “You seem a little impatient, don’t you think? This was my first time flying in business class, and I had a hard time figuring out the check-in procedure and all that. We are travelling with my spouse, but…”
Before Debbie could say anything further, they arrived at JFK as announced over the intercom. But after making his announcement, Captain Tyler Brown, the pilot, had more to say before shutting off the intercom.
“I also want to express my gratitude to each and every person travelling with us, especially my wife Debbie Brown. Debbie, my love, words cannot express how much your help means to me.”
When Louis saw that Debbie’s husband was a pilot on the flight, his face flushed with shame and his heart missed a beat.
“I was anxious because this was my first time piloting an A-class aircraft. I am grateful to my spouse for reassuring me that everything will work out and choosing to come along even though she is afraid of flying to soothe my concerns. I returned to work today after a protracted period of unemployed.
Debbie has never complained about her circumstances, despite the fact that my wife and I have never had it easy and have faced many challenges in our life. I would thus like to pop the question to my wife once more on this flight on this day, which also happens to be the day we initially met—a date I think she has forgotten.
Debbie, sweetheart, I adore you!”
At this point, Tyler defied convention and exited the pilot’s cabin, popping the question to Debbie and putting a ring on her finger. “Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me again, Mrs. Debbie Brown?”
Now Debbie and her kids had been the centre of attention for everyone on the plane; they looked like the most gorgeous family imaginable. The passengers cheered as Debbie nodded yes through crying eyes, while Louis stood confused and ashamed. Debbie, nevertheless, would not stand by and let him get away with it.
“A materialistic man like you, who only thinks about money, would never understand how it feels to have a loved one around you,” she stated to Louis as they were getting off the plane. Indeed, my spouse and I lead a modest life, but we take great pride in it.”